Sofitel Magic Lagoon Resort & Spa Khao Lak
Posted on 12/28/2004 7:25:56 AM PST by Ginifer
THAILAND'S unofficial death toll soared last night after 800 bodies were reported to be found in a hotel.
Rescue workers found the bodies in a Sofitel hotel near Khao Lak, a town in northern Phuket, where hundreds of French tourists were staying, French radio reported.
Many bodies had been found in the rooms of the devastated hotel.
A spokeswoman for the Accor group, which runs the hotel, refused to comment on the reports but confirmed the hotel had 350 guests and 250 staff when the catastrophe struck.
Six Australians died in Thailand. Some 200 tourists, including AFL player Troy Broadbridge, are still missing.
Last night, the official death toll was 1473.
More than 7000 people have been injured.
"But from what I have witnessed more deaths will be reported," Deputy Interior Minister Sutham Sangprathum said.
Trucks and utilities ferried corpses away from the beach resorts yesterday as officials frantically tried to contain the spread of disease.
Bodies were still seen on streets, in trees and floating in swimming pools of Khao Lak. The scale of destruction was hard to comprehend, witnesses said.
"The town is totally devastated, the remaining buildings are shells. There are no inhabitable structures left in the main part of town," one man said.
Even though the town is 400m from the sea, the water went through and ripped out lower and sometimes upper floors. The devastation stretches 500m inland.
Buses have been swept off roads and buried up to the roof in mud.
It was not clear whether the bodies of passengers were still inside.
Soldiers in orange rubber gloves and white masks searched every building before loading the dead on trucks.
Two soldiers improvised a stretcher from a pole and a bloodstained sheet to carry the body of a bikini-clad woman.
Bed linen was used to wrap the corpses.
Bloated bodies were floating in swimming pools, with soldiers using poles to retrieve them.
The Le Meridien Khao Lak Beach and Spa Resort was less damaged.
"I don't care about the damage, or the cost," said owner Vitya Chakrabandhu. "Right now we're concentrating on finding people. About 12 tourists went missing but I've heard some have turned up. I think at least five were killed.
"It will take about six months to rebuild but I think the industry here will be devastated for a long time to come."
More of these stories will undoubtedly arise. I heard that there was a train packed with people that was washed into the sea. I don't remember the place though.
With disease yet to come,
a toll of 100,000 would not surprise me.
I can't imagine the horror.
600 Norwegians are missing, and more than a thousand Swedes are missing as well.
I believe it was Sri Lanka. 1500 passengers killed, but the train wasn't swept away into the sea. Fox had video of the wreckage this morning. The tracks were twisted and warped like they were wire.
The number of missing Swedes is currently over 1 500. The government stated earlier today that the Swedish death toll is likely to be "very large".
ping
Good source for info at that link. Thanks for posting it.
From the link:
"PHUKET HOTEL STATUS
Amanpuri The flooding destroyed the gym, beach and tour counters.
Amari Coral Beach Closed until further notice
Andaman Seaview Can operate with normal power and water supply, operating normally
Baan Thai Beach Resort Closed until further notice
Banyan Tree Operating normally, except beach restaurant
Burasari Closed until further notice
Cape Panwa The hotel only has minor damages to the beach and the road in front of the hotel (barely noticeable.)
Central Karon Village The flooding did not affect the hotel at all. The hotel operates as normal.
Club Andaman Beach Resort A few rental restaurants in the front of the hotel are totally demolished. The pool is closed and being repaired at the moment. The bungalows were partially flooded but people are now moving back in.
Chedi The swimming pool is damaged along with all the beach front bungalows and the beach restaurant.
Duangjitt Resort The big swimming pool is closed along with some rooms on the first floor.
Dusit Laguna All the rooms on the first floor, the swimming pool and two of restaurant (Italian/ Seafood) took a direct hit. The activities areas are gone and all the rooms on the 1st floor are closed. Everything else at the hotel is operating as usual.
Evason Phuket The pier was destroyed and the beach is ruined but the flood did not affect the hotel at all.
Felix Karon The flooding did not affect the hotel at all.
Hilton Phuket Arcadia The “Zen” Japanese restaurant is closed because of the damages as well as the staff parking lot. However, the flood did not affect the hotel at all since it is in the same shape as it was before the flood.
Holiday Inn Closed, can not accommodate any guests until Feb 28th
Horizon Beach Resort Closed until further notice
Impiana 100% damage, closed until further notice
JW Marriott No structural damage or fatalities, but swimming pool, pool bar and beachfront restaurant temporarily closed
Karon Beach Resort Closed until further notice
Kata Beach Resort Partially damaged (swimming pool, beachfront area, some seaview rooms)
Katathani Bhuri Operating normally
Katathani Thani Damage on ground floor rooms, garden and swimming pool area. Guests occupying ground floor rooms have been offered a move to Katathani Bhuri
Laguna Beach Resort The 1st Floor of the hotel is damaged (swimming pool, rooms, etc.) They have, however, moved their clients to the south wing or to 2nd – 4th Floors.
Laguna Phuket Operating normally
Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort No water and power supply
Marina Phuket Operating normally except “On the rock” restaurant
Merlin Beach Resort Closed until further notice
Novotel Coralia Operating normally
Orchidacea OK (located on higher level)
Patong Beach Hotel Closed until further notice
Patong Lodge Hotel Operating normally
Patong Merlin All bookings cancelled until further notice
Peach Hill Hotel & Resort Operating normally
Pearl Village Moderately affected, will be back in operation within 3 days.
Phuket Merlin Is safe, but cannot accommodate any additional bookings
Phuket Orchid The flooding did not affect the hotel at all. Operating as normal.
Royal Paradise Operating normally except the road at the front of the hotel is damaged.
Sabana The flooding came up to the parking lot and destroyed the office. The rest is still in place.
Seaview Patong 100% damage, closed for at least 7 months
Sheraton Grande Laguna The only damage is on the beach and the beachfront restaurant.
Southsea Karon Beach OK
Thavorn Beach Village & Spa The bungalows are all damaged. Their two restaurants, Marisa and Old Siam, are wrecked. They are serving 3 meals at the lobby village club and their clients are staying in the Ocean View Villas.
Trisara Minor damage on beach pool and a few beachside sundeck lounges. Otherwise operating normally.
Twinpalms No damage, no fatalities. Operating normally
PHANG NGA HOTEL STATUS
Anantara Royal Coco Palm Totally destroyed
Khao Lak Orchid Beach Resort Closed until further notice
Khao Lak Sunset Closed until further notice
Mukdara Closed until further notice
Paradise Koh Yao OK, no damage and no fatalities
Southsea Pakarang Closed until further notice
KRABI HOTEL STATUS
Andaman Holiday Operating normally, except Beach pool, beach bar and “on the rock” restaurant. Two other pools are open and one restaurant is still operating.
Ao Nang Villa Operating normally
Krabi Resort Operating normally
Krabi Thai village Operating normally
Phranang Inn Only “Phranang Kitchen” is temporarily closed until further notice. Otherwise operating normally
Rayavadee Closed until further notice
Sheraton Krabi Operating normally
PHI PHI HOTEL STATUS
Bayview No water and power supply due to damaged generators and the beachfront restaurant is closed at the moment
Holiday Inn Phi Phi Only minor damages, but the hotel is suffering from a lack of food and drinking water
Phi Phi Charlie Closed until further notice
Phi Phi Erawan Palm Still operating with beach side damage. The hotel is considering closing.
Phi Phi Island Cabana Closed until further notice because of complete lack of water and power supplies.
Phi Phi Island Village Air conditioning at the beachfront villas is broken. Some guests have moved to Krabi or Phuket, most guests at hillside villas have decided to stay
Phi Phi Natural The resort was only slightly damaged.
Phi Phi Princess Closed until further notice
Phi Phi Tonsai Closed until further notice because of complete lack of water and power supplies.
LANTA HOTEL STATUS
Pimalai Resort & Spa Operating normally except 7 beach villas and “Rak Talay Restaurant”
Royal Lanta Slight damage in the kitchen area and the pool. Other then this operating normally.
Southern Lanta Damaged in beach area and beach bar. The accommodation is operating as per normal.
Twin Bay Resort Closed, no cancellation charges and full refund of all deposits.
Twin Lotus 100% damaged, closed for the remaining season"
hummmmm
This comment about the Hilton seems to suggest that it was in poor shape even before it was hit, particularly when compared to comments about other hotels such as "safe" "no damage" and "slightly damaged".
BEFORE...
AFTER....
WOW....
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