Two Americans among six dead at Hyatt hotel in Bangkok, officials say

The people are believed to have been dead since Monday, the prime minister said. There were no immediate signs of a robbery or attack and preliminary investigations have focused on the possibility that the visitors had ingested a harmful substance, he said.

The deaths of six foreigners in a luxury hotel in the Thai capital could be a severe blow to a country whose economy depends heavily on tourism.

Angelina Hue, a spokeswoman for Hyatt’s Asia Pacific region, said in an emailed statement that Hyatt was “deeply saddened by this tragic situation” and that “the safety of our guests and colleagues is always our top priority.” She said Hyatt was cooperating with local authorities and referred further questions to police.

Representatives of the Thai and Vietnamese foreign ministries, the U.S. State Department and the U.S. embassies in Bangkok and Hanoi did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Photos of the room where the bodies were found showed an assortment of room service food and teacups. Most of the food appeared untouched, with some of the plates still covered in plastic wrap.

Wilawan reported from Bangkok.