In the early hours of 31 October, a Dutch resident caused a major evacuation in a Pattaya condominium after leaving a frying pan on the stove before falling asleep.
At around 4:30 am on 31 October 2026, Pattaya police were alerted to a large column of smoke at Laguna Beach Resort 3, located in the Nong Prue district of Bang Lamung, in Chonburi province. Emergency services were immediately deployed with three fire engines.
On arrival, floors 3 to 5 were filled with smoke. Thai and foreign residents were urgently evacuated to the ground floor. Police and firefighters had to knock on doors to wake sleeping occupants.
After about thirty minutes of searching, rescuers located the source of the incident in room 304 on the third floor. On opening the door, they discovered a frying pan containing completely charred chicken on the hob, emitting thick smoke.
The tenant, Mr. Fethullah Ezka, 30, a Dutch national, was sound asleep. Despite several calls, he did not react. Rescuers had to shake him awake, much to the man's astonishment at the presence of so many people in his room.
Questioned on site, Mr. Fethullah Ezka admitted to having consumed alcohol before putting chicken on to fry, then falling asleep and forgetting to turn off the heat. The incident caused no injuries or significant damage, but caused panic among the building's residents.
The firefighters reminded everyone that this event should serve as a warning: it is essential to always check that cooking appliances are turned off before going to bed, to avoid any risk of fire.
Source : Chonburinews