Mystery surrounds Phuket car fire

RASSADA, PHUKET: Police continue to investigate the mysterious explosion and fire that left a Honda Accord a charred wreck on the bypass road in front of Tesco Lotus at about 5:30pm yesterday.

The driver, 35-year-old construction contractor Supachai Jongchanasetthakul, was rushed to nearby Bangkok Hospital Phuket, where he was treated for burns to the right side of his stomach. He was scheduled for release some time today.

The fire, extinguished by Kathu Municipality firefighters in about 10 minutes, left the whole car except the front bumper heavily charred.

Phuket City Police Superintendent Wanchai Ekpornpit today ruled out sabotage or a bomb as the cause of the fire.

The vehicle had not been modified to run on any alternative fuels as was widely rumored, he added.

For more on the investigation read the hardcopy edition of the Phuket Gazette on newsstands from Saturday.

— Kitima Pornmongkhonwat