Initial reports indicated that the hotel’s restaurant and five guest rooms were badly damaged in the blaze. There were no reports of injuries, though some guests who fled the flames had all their belongings destroyed.
The website of the Australian newspaper the Gladstone Observer quoted Australian Kathy Andrews, who was staying at a neighboring resort. She said she was woken by loud explosions and smoke.
“Ms Andrews said she saw staff running around everywhere and Australian tourists standing around wearing nothing but towels,” the website quoted her as saying.
“‘They have lost everything,’ she said. ‘I did get a lady some clothes.’”
It took 10 fire engines from Patong and neighbouring districts an hour to put out the fire at the hotel, which is owned by the French-run Crissey Group.
Firemen said the blaze appeared to have started in a building that houses the restaurant and hotel offices, and spread to adjacent buildings.
The cause of the fire is still being investigated and damages are still being assessed.