The confirmation came at an urgent meeting convened by Governor Nirat Pongsitthaworn at the so-called ‘Phuket Smart Pier’, as officials now call Chalong Pier, yesterday to monitor the situation, determine solutions and coordinate relief for affected operators.
The meeting was attended by an all-star cast of senior officials, including Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pol Maj Gen Sinlert Sukhum, Vice Governor Adul Chuthong, Provincial Palad (Provincial Chief Administrative Officer) Rungruang Thimabut, Mueang Phuket District Chief Pairoj Srilamul, PPAO President Rewat Areerob, Phuket Marine Office Chief Adul Ralukmoon, Phuket Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office (DDPM Phuket) Acting chief Charan Khwankaew, Phuket Provincial Insurance Office Director Kanjana Srisuksri, along with heads of government departments and other agencies.
CCTV footage from the pier shows the first speedboat erupting into flames as it pulled alongside other boats moored along the beachfront near Chalong Pier at 3:48am, before the fire spread rapidly to nearby vessels moored close together, officials noted yesterday.
Chalong Police were alerted shortly afterwards, at 3:51am, and officers from Chalong Police Station, along with rescue workers and disaster prevention personnel, were immediately dispatched to the scene, said an official report marking Governor Nirat’s visit.
Police arriving at the pier found the fire burning intensely, with strong winds and low tide complicating firefighting efforts and restricting access for emergency crews. Sparks carried by the wind ignited additional boats, allowing the blaze to spread quickly through the cluster of vessels.
Firefighting teams from Chalong, Rawai, Wichit and Karon municipalities, supported by personnel from the Pearl Centre of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) and other relevant agencies, mobilised fire engines and crews to contain the fire. Officials continuously sprayed water and used methods such as cutting mooring ropes and separating boats to prevent the flames from spreading further, the report noted.
Despite the challenging conditions, officials were able to bring the blaze under control before it engulfed a much larger number of vessels. No injuries were reported, Gov Nirat said.
Mr Adul reported that initial investigations confirmed 24 speedboats owned by 13 operators were damaged, with estimated losses of approximately B40 million.
Mr Rewat said that during the incident, multiple municipalities and agencies worked together to deploy fire trucks and personnel to control the blaze as quickly as possible.
“Although the operation was difficult due to low tide and strong winds, officials were able to bring the situation under control rapidly,” he said, describing the response as highly efficient and commendable.
Governor Nirat assured that the Phuket officials immediately mobilised all relevant agencies following the incident, saying forensic police officers were deployed to thoroughly investigate the cause of the fire, with the Phuket Provincial Police Commander overseeing the investigation at the scene.
At the same time, DDPM Phuket has begun the process of disaster declaration and damage assessment, while the Phuket Regional Office of the Marine Department has “managed” affected boats and assessed pier safety to ensure operations could resume, Gov Nirat said.
The Governor noted that at the time of the fire, more than 1,000 boats were moored in Chalong Bay, most of them fully refuelled in preparation for transporting tourists later in the day.
He warned that if the fire had not been controlled quickly, there was a serious risk it could have spread throughout the bay, causing far greater damage and impacting Phuket’s tourism industry.
Regarding restoration efforts, Governor Nirat said Chalong Municipality immediately began clearing wreckage, ash and oil slicks from the sea. Cleanup teams were dispatched with the aim of completing operations within 24 hours to minimise environmental impact and ensure marine safety.
Meanwhile, the Phuket Provincial Office of the Insurance Commission (OIC) has taken responsibility for coordinating all insurance claims related to the damaged boats and has established an on-site insurance claims centre. Police, DDPM Phuket and OIC officials have jointly set up a one-stop service centre to receive reports and provide assistance to affected businesses and members of the public, Gov Nirat said.
To ensure clear communication, the Phuket Provincial Public Relations Office (PR Phuket) has been tasked with providing accurate and timely information to reduce public concern and prevent panic among residents and tourists, said an official report of the meeting.
Governor Nirat confirmed that following a safety assessment by the Marine Department, Chalong Pier remains open and operational, in order to maintain confidence in the area.
In addition, the Governor assigned Vice Governor Adul and the Provincial Palad Rungruang to visit affected operators to listen to their concerns and consider further government assistance measures, while investigations into the cause of the fire continue.
“We commend and thank all agencies for their strong, selfless and efficient performance of duty,” Governor Nirat said. “We also offer encouragement to all affected businesses to overcome this crisis together.”