Drunk Dutch Tourist's Cooking Triggers Pattaya Condo Evacuation

At 04:30 on October 31, 2026, Pattaya City Police received a report of heavy smoke inside a condominium in Nong Prue, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi. They coordinated with the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Pattaya Rescue Foundation and Pattaya Disaster Prevention and Mitigation officers, dispatching three fire engines to the scene.

Upon arrival, thick smoke was found covering the third through fifth floors, causing panic among Thai and foreign residents who rushed to evacuate downstairs. Police, rescue workers, and firefighters knocked on doors to wake sleeping occupants and guide them to safety.

After about 30 minutes of searching, the source was located in a third-floor unit where smoke was billowing out with a strong burning smell. Condo staff unlocked the door to reveal a frying pan of chicken left on the stove, burned black and filling the room with acrid smoke. The room's occupant, a 30-year-old Dutch man, was sound asleep on the bed. Repeated calls failed to rouse him, so officers shook him until he woke, confused to find his room full of emergency personnel.

The man admitted he had been drinking alcohol, then started frying chicken but accidentally fell asleep and forgot to turn off the stove. The chicken burned and produced massive amounts of smoke that spread through the building.

Firefighter Sirawat Prawit confirmed that after receiving the alert, his team entered the condo, found the burning pan on the stove, and discovered the foreign man asleep inside. Despite repeated attempts to wake him verbally, he only responded after being physically shaken.

No injuries or deaths were reported, and there was no serious fire damage. However, the incident startled the entire building's residents, forcing a middle-of-the-night evacuation. Authorities warned that anyone cooking should always check and turn off appliances before going to bed to prevent fires that could endanger lives and property.