
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, August 14, 1993                   TAG: 9308140193
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: KORAT, THAILAND                                LENGTH: Short

THAILAND HOTEL FALLS, KILLING AT LEAST 40

A six-story hotel where hundreds of people from around the world were attending conferences came crashing down Friday. At least 40 people died, including an American soldier, and about 350 were injured.

Crews worked into the early morning today looking for dozens trapped under the rubble of the Royal Plaza Hotel in Korat, a provincial capital and commercial center 130 miles northeast of Bangkok. Air was pumped into the debris.

National Police Chief Sawasdi Amornwivat said he suspected the hotel's collapse was connected to work in 1990 to add three top floors.

A police official, Chalong Kingchakaew, said the hotel was being renovated when it collapsed.

Among the dead was a U.S. Air Force master sergeant, still unidentified, who had stopped at the hotel to send a fax, another U.S. serviceman said Saturday.

Master Sgt. Larry H. Crismon of Salt Lake City said the soldier was part of an Air Force detachment installing telephone lines at the Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base. He said the soldier was stationed on Guam, but on temporary duty at the Thai base.

The unit was staying at the hotel, but members were at work when the building came down, Crimson said.

Hospital personnel listed two foreign women among the dead - one from England, one from Japan. Provincial officials listed only the British woman.

Police said 13 Americans were registered as guests.

Officials said 276 people suffered serious injuries and 70 others received minor injuries.

Estimates of those missing ranged from 50 to 200.

Keywords:
FATALITY

by CNB