On Tuesday, July 16th, six foreign bodies were found in a high-end hotel room in Bangkok, Thailand. Thai police are investigating this mysterious case and have not ruled out the possibility of poisoning.
According to reports from media outlets including Reuters, on Tuesday, Thiti Saengsawang, the chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) in Bangkok, told reporters that the six deceased individuals were all of Vietnamese descent, with two of them holding American passports. These six individuals arrived in Bangkok last Saturday (July 13) and Sunday, checking into the Grand Hyatt hotel in two separate groups.
The bodies were discovered by hotel staff more than 24 hours after the guests’ check-out time had passed. Thiti stated that the group of six included three men and three women who had checked into different rooms but were found deceased together in one room, with no signs of struggle evident.
Authorities mentioned that the incident did not appear to be a robbery, as there were no signs of violence on the bodies. They also do not believe the deaths were self-inflicted. However, cups with white powder residue and uneaten food were found in the room, leading to the possibility of poisoning not being ruled out.
Thiti added that authorities are searching for a seventh person connected to the group of six. “We are tracing every move they made after disembarking from the plane,” he said.
Four of the victims were identified as Vietnamese nationals. Police believe that one of them attempted to reach the door but collapsed before getting there.
The U.S. State Department acknowledged reports of two American citizens’ deaths in Bangkok. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and stated that they are closely monitoring the situation, ready to provide consular assistance to the families.
The Grand Hyatt hotel in Bangkok boasts over 350 rooms and is located in a popular tourist area known for its luxury amenities and renowned restaurants. The hotel has not responded immediately to Reuters’ request for comment.
In a statement, the Thai government announced that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, along with senior police officials, visited the hotel later on Tuesday, ordering a swift investigation into the case. The statement mentioned that the Prime Minister had instructed all agencies to take emergency actions to prevent any impact on the tourism industry.
Thailand, as Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy, heavily relies on tourism as a key driver of its economy. The government expects 35 million foreign tourists to visit this year, compared to 28 million in 2023, with an estimated expenditure of 1.2 trillion Thai baht (approx. $33.71 billion).
In October of last year, a luxury shopping mall near the Hyatt hotel was the site of a shooting incident where two foreigners lost their lives, leading to repercussions for the tourism industry. This prompted the government to implement measures to enhance security at popular tourist spots.
To attract more tourists, the Thai government has extended visa stay durations and exemption policies for visitors from multiple countries.