Chalong Police were alerted to the blaze at 3:51am, when Pol Lt Natthapol Phumlueangkit, Deputy Investigator at Chalong Police Station, received a report of a boat fire in Chalong Bay.
Police officers rushed to the scene and informed Chalong Police Superintendent Pol Col Surasak Jaidee, who ordered senior officers from investigation, crime suppression and intelligence units to attend. Upon arrival, officers found the fire burning intensely and spreading rapidly among speedboats docked close together at the pier.
An eyewitness, Tuwaesoh Binmakuta, told police he was on security duty near the Arch 39 Hotel when he noticed smoke and flames rising from Chalong Bay. He immediately contacted the Chalong Police radio centre to report the incident.
Phuket Vice Governor Adul Chuthong said initial investigations indicated the fire began with an explosion aboard a single speedboat, before strong sea winds carried sparks to nearby vessels, causing the blaze to spread quickly.
“Initial inquiries with eyewitnesses and local officials indicate that the fire originated from an explosion on the first speedboat, before spreading rapidly to other boats moored nearby,” Mr Adul said. “At least 20 speedboats were damaged in the incident.”
Firefighting efforts were complicated by low tide, which restricted access for emergency crews and delayed efforts to bring the blaze under control.
Rescue workers and disaster prevention and mitigation officers from Chalong, Rawai, Wichit and Karon municipalities, along with personnel from the Pearl Centre, were deployed to the scene.
The Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) coordinated the mobilisation of fire engines and firefighting personnel, who worked urgently to spray water on the burning vessels. Crews also used ropes to pull boats apart in an effort to prevent the flames from spreading further.
Despite these efforts, the intensity of the fire and the proximity of the vessels made containment difficult during the early stages of the incident.
Phuket Governor Nirat Pongsitthaworn ordered the Phuket Marine Office to provide firefighting foam to prevent fuel and oil from spreading across the water. He also instructed police and forensic officers to secure the area and begin a detailed investigation into the cause of the fire.
Officials confirmed that all of the speedboats had been fully refuelled at the time of the incident, as they were scheduled to transport tourists to various island destinations later in the day.
The Governor has ordered an urgent investigation into the cause of the fire, including a review of CCTV footage from the pier and surrounding areas, a provincial official said.
Later in the morning, as the tide rose, officials were able to begin moving the damaged boats away from the pier. The Governor instructed authorities to remove the vessels as quickly as possible to prevent debris and sediment from contaminating the sea and to reduce the environmental impact on Chalong Bay.
No injuries have been reported. The full extent of the financial damage is still being assessed.
Police and forensic officers remain at the scene as investigations continue.