Fire destroys Zodiac Bar & Clubhouse in Wichit

A fire destroyed Zodiac Bar & Clubhouse in Wichit, Phuket, after police were alerted at about 11:56am, according to police.

Firefighters from Wichit Municipality’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department found the bar engulfed in flames. The venue was part of a large restaurant complex made up of tiered two- and three-storey buildings in front of a hotel.

Strong winds helped the fire spread rapidly, and firefighters took more than 30 minutes to bring it under control. The building and all interior property were reported to have been destroyed, with damage estimated at more than B500,000.

The bar normally opens at 3pm but was closed when the fire broke out. An eyewitness told investigators that flashes resembling an electrical short circuit were seen coming from the direction of the bar shortly before the fire started.

A preliminary assessment identified an electrical short circuit as a possible cause. Phuket forensic officers were conducting a detailed examination to confirm the cause, while police examined the scene and assessed the damage. No injuries were reported.