PHUKET, Thailand – Authorities in Phuket are accelerating the recovery of 22 speedboats destroyed by a fire at Chalong Pier while working to clear oil slicks from the sea, as officials move to assist affected operators and determine the cause of the blaze.
The fire broke out at around 3:57 a.m. on January 7 at the Chalong Bay pier in Mueang district, Phuket. Firefighters from Chalong and Karon municipalities, Phuket City Municipality, and the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation deployed more than a dozen fire engines, supported by a fireboat from the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization. Crews worked intensively to contain the flames by cutting mooring lines and separating boats to prevent the fire from spreading.
Firefighting efforts were complicated by low tide and strong winds, but officials were able to bring the situation under control quickly. No injuries were reported.
Phuket Governor Nirat Pongsitthithaworn praised all agencies for their coordinated response, saying the swift action prevented a far larger disaster. He ordered urgent measures to assist affected operators after 22 speedboats belonging to 13 businesses were damaged, with losses estimated at more than 38 million baht. An emergency meeting has been convened to determine compensation and recovery measures.
The Phuket Regional Harbour Office reported that it is managing the removal of damaged vessels and restoring the pier to normal operations. More than 1,000 boats are typically moored in Chalong Bay, many fully fueled to serve tourists, raising concerns that the fire could have spread much further if not quickly contained.
Chalong Municipality has begun clearing burned debris, ash, and oil residues from the water, deploying cleanup teams with a target of completing operations within 24 hours to minimize environmental and maritime safety impacts.
Meanwhile, forensic police led by Pol Col Kittisak Nuphueang, chief of Phuket’s forensic division, are examining the burned vessels alongside Chalong Police investigators. CCTV footage from the pier, monitored by the provincial administrative organization, shows flames erupting from a speedboat at around 3:45 a.m. before rapidly spreading to nearby vessels, accompanied by explosion-like sounds. The footage has been secured as evidence as authorities continue to investigate the cause of the fire. (TNA)
