Fire broke outon a "speedboat"docked at a pierat "Ao Makham"in Wichit Subdistrict, Phuket Province. Officials rushed to the scene and found five crew members injured and one missing. CCTV footage captured the moment of the incident, showing the boat exploding before the fire engulfed it.
At 11:00 a.m. on 6 Apr 2026, Pol. Col. Somsak Thongkliang, Superintendent of Wichit Police Station, received a report from the Phuket Tourist Assistance Center (Kaimeuk Center) of a speedboat explosion and fire while docked at a private pier near the Customs Pier at Ao Makham, Sakdidej Road, Wichit Subdistrict, Mueang Phuket District. Several people were injured, prompting coordination with the Wichit Municipality Rescue Team and Kusoldharm Phuket Foundation Rescue to respond and provide assistance.
The incident site was a private docking pier where a speedboat near the jetty was heavily and rapidly burning. Several injured people were treated by rescue workers before being transported to Vachira Phuket Hospital.
Meanwhile, the Phuket Provincial Fire Department’s fireboat towed the burning speedboat away from the pier out into the sea to prevent the flames from spreading to other docked vessels. Firefighters then sprayed water to control and extinguish the fire.
At 1:20 p.m., Pol. Maj. Gen. Sinlert Sukhum, Commander of Phuket Provincial Police, spoke about the incident after inspecting the scene with forensic officers. Initially, CCTV footage from the pier showed the boat exploded, likely due to an engine explosion, which then quickly ignited the fire. The speedboat had two engines, and only company staff were on board at the time—no tourists. Five crew members were injured.
The injured included: 1. Mr. Komkrit Arundecha, 30, from Ratsada Subdistrict, Mueang Phuket, the boat captain; 2. Mr. Natthawut Phuangkaew, 22, from Phuang Phromkhon Subdistrict, Khian Sa District, Surat Thani Province; 3. Mr. Niwat Duangmanee, 34, from Ratsada Subdistrict, Mueang Phuket; 4. Ms. Piyathida Pojin, 23, from Khuan Ru Subdistrict, Rattaphum District, Songkhla Province; 5. Mr. Chutidet Atisuchathit, 27, from Ao Tong Subdistrict, Wang Wiset District, Trang Province; and 6. Mr. Kompetch Wandi, 23, from Ratsada Subdistrict, Mueang Phuket, who is missing and currently being searched for. The boat sank and is being salvaged for investigation into the cause of the fire.
Additional reports noted that CCTV at the pier recorded the entire event, capturing footage before and during the explosion, which occurred at 10:55 a.m. on 6 Apr 2026, accompanied by loud blasts heard throughout the area amid screams from bystanders. The fire spread rapidly, and staff at the pier tried to extinguish it with fire extinguishers but were unsuccessful due to the fast-moving flames.