Mr Sanong, 59, said he believes the fire was set deliberately. The bar was closed at the time, he said. “I was working at the time as a Border Force Volunteer in Phuket Town. My wife was at home, about 500 metres from the bar.
“I believe it was arson. Someone did this because of a business issue,” he added, without going into detail.
Strong winds fanned the flames and although fire trucks were able to extinguish the blaze in 30 minutes, by the time they did so there was little left apart from scorched beer cans.
Cherng Thalay police will investigate.