THALANG, THAILAND – A gas-converted van burned out completely on a main road in Phuket on Wednesday morning, while the driver escaped without injury.
Emergency call and response
On Wednesday morning, 10 December, an emergency call reached the police in Thalang reporting a car in flames on a main road. Station chief Police Colonel Nikorn Chuthong immediately requested two fire engines from the Si Sunthon municipality. At the scene, responders found a black Volkswagen van with the license plate HY-830 Phuket already engulfed in flames.
Fire brought under control
Firefighters needed more than ten minutes to bring the blaze under control. By that time, the vehicle was a total loss, with only the burned metal frame remaining, and no one was injured. The charred van was later towed to Thalang Police Station for examination by forensic specialists.
Driver noticed burning smell in time
The 50-year-old owner, Mr. Phan, had been driving home from Phuket Town toward the Thalang intersection when he suddenly noticed a strong burning smell. He stopped immediately and got out of the vehicle. Dense smoke then poured from the engine bay before flames quickly spread, while local residents tried in vain to help with handheld fire extinguishers.
Old gas-converted van without insurance
Mr. Phan told police the van was about 19 years old, bought new in 2006 and in use ever since. He stated that the vehicle had been converted to run on gas, though it remained unclear whether this modification caused the fire. Another blow for the owner was that the van was not insured, leaving him with a complete financial loss.
Forensic experts to clarify cause
Police secured the wreck and awaited forensic specialists from Phuket to determine the exact cause of the fire. Investigators were expected to focus in particular on the gas conversion, including possible technical defects in the system or the aging engine. Until the official findings were available, the cause of the blaze remained speculation and, for the owner, an expensive lesson.