LANGKAWI – A fire gutted the luxury Andaman Resort in Langkawi last night.
There is no announcement on the hotel’s social media pages, but it is believed that the blaze destroyed the kitchen and gutted parts of the main building.
The Fire and Rescue Department is now trying to prevent the inferno from spreading to the forest and neighbouring luxury resort, The Datai.
Emergency responders, volunteers and the hotel’s safety unit have limited resources to fight the fire due to the building’s location.
The hotel sits next to a forest reserve, and it is believed to have a limited number of fire hydrants.
Firemen have been fighting the fire since it broke out at 5pm yesterday.
As of 3am today, the firestorm has engulfed the hotel.
As of 10am, there are reports that the blaze has yet to be fully doused, owing to the building’s timber structures and remote location.
A Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said the fire is believed to have originated from the kitchen, adding that staff members and guests have been evacuated when the fire alarm went off.
The resort was built in the 1990s, and is one of two pioneering five-star hotels on the island, after its sister property, The Datai.
Both resorts were designed and built without cutting down trees, with timber obtained from elephant-felled trees.
The Andaman is known for its sea views and private beach, as well as its Malaysian-inspired architecture. It is located about 40km from Kuah. – The Vibes, January 13, 2021
