Flames engulf two Phuket tour buses
PHUKET: A fire devoured two parked tour buses on Phuket in the middle of the afternoon yesterday, causing an estimated 7-million-baht worth of damage, though no one was reported injured.
The fire broke out on board the recently-arrived Phuket-Songkhla route bus, operated by the Sukda Bus Service, and then spread to another bus, said Phuket City Police officer Capt Somchai Noobun, who was informed of the blaze at 3:30pm.
Though quick to respond, the Phuket City Municipality Fire Department were unable to save either the double-deck Sukda Bus or the PT Trans Express Company single-deck bus parked alongside it.
Fortunately, no passengers were inside either bus at the time.
“Sriwit Noonun, 40, had just finished the journey from the Sadao district in Songkhla to Phuket. He arrived on the island at about 3pm and parked at Soi Kanjana-uthit in Baan Samkong,” explained Capt Somchai.
“Mr Sriwit was resting outside the bus when his friend, who was inside the vehicle, claims he heard the sound of an explosion from the front of the bus,” he said.
“He escaped as the bus started to burn,” he added.
Capt Somchai confirmed to the Phuket Gazette that police are currently investigating the incident in order to identify the cause of the fire.
— Thawit Binabdullar
