Authorities in the Asian gambling Mecca of Macau have ordered a hotel to close temporarily due to fire safety violations.
The Beijing Imperial Palace Hotel in Tapai has more than 500 rooms and will close down for six months due to a number of inadequate safety protocols, the South China Morning Post reports.
Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, director of the Macau Government Tourism Office, said the hotel did not have a sufficient number of fire extinguishers or emergency lighting and that many emergency exits are blocked.
The director also noted the hotel’s on-site storage of flammable materials exceeded legal limits.
Tour agencies with bookings for clients at the hotel have been instructed to make alternative arrangements for guests.
Senna Fernandes added that some of the hotel outlets, which includes restaurants, had already had licenses revoked.
The property previously operated under the name of New Century Hotel.
