Chiang Mai: Officials are urgently searching for the cause of a fire at the Dhara Dhevi Hotel, which resulted in the destruction of seven wooden buildings. The fire broke out at 2:00 a.m. in the hotel’s former spa area, which had not been in use for several years.

According to Thai News Agency, the fire quickly spread among the wooden structures due to the abundance of wood and fabric, which served as fuel. Although it initially took two hours to control the blaze, firefighters had to continue spraying water into the morning to prevent reignition. Nearby villagers reported seeing flames and hearing a loud noise similar to an explosion during the night.

Mr. Wanchai Utaraphat, the caretaker of the Dhara Dhevi Hotel, noted that the affected area had been unused for years, with water and electricity systems having been cut off, making it unlikely to be the fire’s origin. Officials are now tasked with determining the fire’s cause, though the extent of the damage has yet to be assessed.

The Dhara Dhevi Hotel, once a renowned 5-star establishment celebrated for its Lanna architecture, closed during the COVID-19 pandemic in late 2020 due to financial difficulties. The property was recently acquired at an auction and was undergoing redevelopment efforts, which have now been halted by this incident.