Speedboat destroyed in fire off Ao Makham in Phuket
The blaze broke out at about 5:25pm near Wisit Panwa Pier in Wichit, causing alarm among local residents and tourists in the area.
A speedboat fire broke out off Ao Makham in Phuket at about 5:25pm on May 11, gutting the Love Andaman vessel Juliet near Wisit Panwa Pier in Wichit. Firefighters brought the blaze under control in about 20 minutes, and no injuries or deaths were reported.
The Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation sent the fireboat Pearl Andaman 5 to contain the flames and stop them spreading to nearby vessels. Police said the speedboat was anchored offshore when the fire erupted.
Captain’s account traces boat’s movements before blaze
Wichit Police Superintendent Pol Col Somsak Thongkliang said police were notified at about 5:55pm after receiving reports that Juliet had caught fire while moored offshore.
The boat’s captain, Itthipat Klomkew, told investigators he left Wisit Panwa Pier at 5am with 18 Russian tourists bound for Phi Phi Island and returned at about 2:20pm.
After dropping off the passengers, the boat refuelled at Asia Marina at Koh Siray before reaching Ao Makham at about 3:55pm. The captain said he then shut down all electrical systems, inspected the vessel for about 20 minutes and went ashore by smaller boat at about 4:15pm.
Vessel sank after firefighting operation
Initial reports placed the speedboat between about 200 metres and one kilometre offshore from Wisit Panwa Pier when the blaze started. Police confirmed the vessel was almost completely destroyed, with only the fibreglass hull left floating before it later sank.
The PPAO’s Pearl Center disaster response unit said the operation focused on protecting other boats and limiting environmental damage in the bay. Love Andaman later confirmed the boat belonged to the company and said it had been moored separately from other vessels.
Officials from Royal Thai Navy Region 3, the Marine Department and forensic investigators joined Wichit Police in examining the incident. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by forensic officers and marine authorities.
Source: https://www.thephuketnews.com/speedboat-gutted-in-ao-makham-fire-100190.php
