Dozens of residents have been forced to leave their homes in Folkestone after a fire broke out at a seaside hotel. Emergency services responded to the blaze, and while the fire itself was addressed, officials determined that the building’s current state posed a potential risk to the surrounding area.

Authorities issued the evacuation order as a precautionary measure to ensure public safety while structural engineers assess the damage. It remains unclear how long the displaced residents will be unable to return to their properties. Local officials have not yet provided a timeline for when the area will be declared safe or when the structural assessment will be completed. There have been no reports of injuries related to the evacuation process itself, though the incident has caused significant disruption for those living in the immediate vicinity of the hotel.