At least three foreign tourists feared dead after huge blaze sweeps through Bangkok backpacker hotel

At least three foreign tourists are feared dead after a massive fire destroyed a backpacker hotel in Bangkok.

Flames caused panic as they ripped through The Ember Hotel in the iconic backpacker district near Khao San Road shortly after 9pm local time.

Frantic staff evacuated 40 young holidaymakers from the hotel’s rooftop bar before aerial platforms lifted them to safety.

Firefighters fought their way to the source of the fire on the fifth floor, while colleagues fought the flames from outside.

They found a female tourist and a man who both fainted from smoke inhalation in their room.

The woman was reportedly pronounced dead at the scene while the unconscious man was taken to hospital in intensive care.

Thai media reported that three foreign tourists, including the female tourist who fainted from smoke inhalation, died as a result of the fire.

A fourth victim was taken to hospital for smoke inhalation.

A police officer escorts tourists who have been evacuated from the hotel

Firefighters at the scene of a fire at the Ember Hotel in Bangkok

Thai rescuers helped forty people from the roof of the building

A fire brigade spokesman said: ‘At 9.26pm firefighters arrived at the scene of the fire in a six-storey hotel building.

‘The fire raged on the fifth floor. There were two people trapped in a room. One was a male and the other a female.

‘The hotel staff helped forty people from the roof of the building and the fire brigade went in to extinguish the fire. Smoke filled all the upper floors.”

The fire was under control around 10:30 PM local time.

Khao San Road is one of the busiest parts of Bangkok, with thousands of backpackers filling the street every evening.

Located in the Banglamphu area, near the Chao Phraya River, it has become a destination for travelers from all over the world.

Rooms in budget hotels in Khao San Road can be found for as little as THB 200 (£4.68) per night.