A tour bus from Wichien Luklee company was on its way from Chalong to pick up passengers at Phuket International Airport when its engine caught on fire at Koh Kaew junction at 10:30pm.
Koh Kaew patrol police, Koh Kaew District Administration Organisation (Or Bor Tor), firemen and Kusoldharm rescue workers arrived on north bound of Thepkassattri Rd near soi Koh Kaew 23 to find the back of the bus covered in thick smoke and flames. It took firemen 20 minutes to put the fire out.
The bus driver, Chaiyan Kaewjan, 51, told patrol officers that he and his son were heading from Chalong to the airport to pick up tourists.
"When I reached the traffic lights at Koh Kaew junction,I glanced at the rear mirror and noticed thick smoke and flames coming out from the back of the bus. I immediately stopped and called for help,” Mr Chaiyan said.
"The constant friction between the loose electrical wires and circuit board caused a damage to the wires, which sparked the fire."