According to Matichon, during a press conference on the evening of July 16, Thai police reported discovering six foreign nationals, including three men and three women, deceased in a room at the Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel in Bangkok. The authorities arrived at the scene after receiving an emergency call from the hotel around 5:30 PM the same day.

The victims were identified as four Vietnamese citizens and two Vietnamese-Americans, aged between 37 and 56. Among them, only Dang Van Hung and Pham Thanh Hong were first-time visitors to Thailand. The others, including Tran Dinh Phu and Nguyen Thi Phuong Lan, had visited the country more than ten times.

Investigators found no signs of bruising or injury on the bodies, nor any evidence of a struggle. Their luggage was found near the door of the room.

PBS quoted a Thai police representative stating that the group of foreign guests is believed to have died from poisoning. However, authorities are still investigating other potential causes. Some local news agencies have speculated that the victims might have been poisoned with cyanide.

Police suspect the victims died within the 24 hours prior to their discovery, possibly around 1:55 PM on July 15. Notably, the hotel room door was locked from the inside when housekeeping staff attempted to clean the room on the afternoon of July 16. Autopsies are being conducted to determine what the victims might have consumed.

Investigators found a total of six glasses with white powder residue at the bottom of each. The food in the room had not been touched. In the bathroom, police discovered some tea, energy drinks, and honey.

Lieutenant General Thiti Saengswang of the Bangkok Police revealed that the group of seven guests had booked five rooms on the 5th and 7th floors of the hotel over the previous weekend, but only five guests checked in on July 13 and 14. Guests in four rooms on the 7th floor were expected to check out on July 15 and had moved their luggage to a room on the 5th floor. The entire group planned to check out on July 15.

Five deceased guests matched the hotel registration information, but the sixth guest had not checked in, and the seventh guest had not appeared. Police are investigating their identities and are actively searching for the seventh person.

According to the Bangkok Post, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin visited the scene on the evening of July 16. He attended the police press conference and dismissed reports suggesting that the foreign guests had died in a shooting or robbery.

Prime Minister Srettha emphasized that the incident was unforeseen but would not negatively impact the country's tourism sector. He also instructed authorities to take urgent measures to reassure the public and tourists.

Vietnamese Government response

Following the incident, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that upon receiving information about the case on the evening of July 16, Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand, Pham Viet Hung, and embassy officials immediately visited the scene and have been closely coordinating with Thai authorities.

Relevant units of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs are closely monitoring the situation, verifying information, identifying the victims, and are ready to implement necessary measures to protect Vietnamese citizens.

Tuan Anh