The fire started from an electrical short in a bus owned by Sakda Bus Service and used on routes between Phuket and the deep South. The alarm was raised by Sriwit Noonun, 40, the bus driver, who said he was worried that the fire might spread to other vehicles and houses nearby.
By the time firemen arrived, the fire had spread to another bus belonging to PT Transport Express company.
Mr Sriwit said that he and his friends usually slept inside the bus but that they had slept outside yesterday. Before the fire broke out an employee heard a gentle detonation in the front of the bus, and it was there the fire started, spreading very quickly.
Firemen were able to put the fire out, but both buses were destroyed, at an estimated loss of B7 million.