Medics at the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital of Thailand on July 17 confirmed that the four Vietnamese and two Americans found dead in the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel in Bangkok died from cyanide poisoning.

They said the six deaths appeared to have occurred about 12 to 24 hours before police arrived on the scene.

The bodies showed traces of the rapid-acting chemical and had purple lips, indicating a lack of oxygen, Chulalongkorn Hospital's Kornkiat Vongpaisarnsin told reporters, adding more tests were being conducted.

At a press conference held earlier the same day, Thai police also said cyanide was found in all coffee cups at the scene, and one of the six is believed to have poisoned the others over debt issues.

It was confirmed that only the six entered and left Room 502 of the hotel, according to Pol Maj Gen Noppasilp Poolsawat, deputy commissioner of Metropolitan Police Bureau.

Among the six, who travelled to Thailand from July 4-12, is a couple from HCM City, but they did not check into the hotel at the same time.

Noppasin said the case appeared to be personal and would not impact the safety of tourists.

Also at the press conference, police said debt issues are the motive behind the crime, and that the seventh person who was part of the hotel booking left Thailand for Việt Nam on July 10.

Vietnamese Embassy assists families of victims in Bangkok hotel case

The Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand is working tirelessly to support the families of the Vietnamese nationals who were found dead in the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel in Bangkok on July 16, and to ensure a swift investigation into the case.

Six foreign nationals, including four Vietnamese, were found dead at the five-star hotel in Pathun Wan district, Bangkok. Bangkok police commissioner Thithi Saengsawang said at a press briefing late July 16 that the victims were not dead from suicide but from the killing of others.

Ambassador Pham Viet Hung said the embassy is collaborating closely with Thai authorities and relevant units of the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry to identify the victims, provide necessary support for their families, and adopting necessary citizen protection measures.

Extending condolences to the families of the victims, Hung said upon learning of this incident, he and embassy staff promptly arrived at the scene to grasp the situation following the instructions of Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and ministry leaders.

The embassy will work with the Vietnam Immigration Department to verify the identities of the four Vietnamese victims based on passport information. Once confirmed, they will notify the families and assist them in completing necessary procedures to repatriate the remains as soon as Thai authorities allow, he said.

He appreciated the prompt response from Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and high-ranking Thai police officials, who were present at the scene and held a press briefing on the case on the evening of July 16.

The embassy will continue working closely with relevant Thai authorities throughout the investigation and provide timely updates for the press as new information becomes available, Hung said./.

VNS/VNA