Tanker truck vapor prompts Phuket scare

PHUKET: A tanker truck parked roadside with vapor pouring from its pressurized tank full of oxygen sent Phuket residents into a state of high alert last night.

The 18-wheeler remained parked in front of the Thalang Museum, near the Heroine’s Monument (map here), with its engine running because residents hesitated to approach it for fear it would explode.

“The truck’s engine was running while the driver was still in the cab, but nobody wanted to go near it,” explained a Kusoldharm foundation rescue worker who arrived on the scene just after midnight.

“We had to knock on the window to wake up the driver,” he said.

Truck driver Chalong Kaewpoomchuang, 56, explained that the vapor was the result of a standard procedure to release pressure from the tank.

“He told us it was not dangerous or harmful, and would not explode,” said the rescue worker.

Mr Chalong had driven from Haad Yai and was headed to Phuket hospitals to deliver the oxygen. Since it was late at night, he couldn’t make the delivery and decided to spend the night parked by the side of the road.

Residents present to hear the explanation went back home to bed.

Those who were not present continued to call Thalang Police throughout the night to report the incident.

— Thawit Bilabdullar