PHUKET — Authorities in Thailand’s southern island province of Phuket are racing to determine the cause of a major fire that destroyed more than 20 speedboats at Chalong Pier early Tuesday, the provincial governor said.

The blaze was reported at about 4 am on January 7, 2026, at Chalong Pier in Chalong subdistrict, Mueang Phuket district, according to Chalong Police. Firefighters and rescue workers were dispatched to the scene after receiving emergency calls.

Phuket Deputy Governor Kong-ek Adul Chuthong said initial reports from witnesses and officials indicated the fire began with an explosion on one speedboat. Strong sea winds then carried burning debris to nearby vessels moored at the pier, causing the fire to spread rapidly. More than 20 speedboats were damaged in the initial assessment, he said.

Firefighting teams from Chalong, Rawai, Wichit and Karon municipalities, along with the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation and other agencies, deployed fire engines and personnel to contain the blaze. Crews attempted to cut mooring lines and separate boats to prevent the flames spreading further. Efforts were hampered by low tide, which made access difficult and delayed full control of the fire.

Phuket Governor Nirath Phongsitthithaworn ordered the Phuket Harbour Department to deploy fire-fighting foam to prevent fuel from spreading in the sea. He also instructed police and forensic officers to secure the area and conduct a detailed investigation into the cause of the fire.

Senior provincial officials were on site to monitor the situation, including Provincial Permanent Secretary Rungrueang Thimabut, Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation President Rewat Areerob, and Adul Raluekmool, director of the Regional Harbour Office in Phuket, along with disaster prevention officials.

The governor later ordered an urgent review of CCTV footage from the pier and surrounding routes. Officials noted that all boats had been fully fuelled in preparation for carrying tourists to nearby islands, raising concerns over the intensity of the blaze.

Authorities said that once sea levels rose later in the morning, crews were able to begin moving damaged vessels away from the area. The governor ordered the prompt removal of the boats to prevent debris and sediment from polluting the sea and to reduce environmental impact.

One boat owner told reporters that three of his speedboats were destroyed. Each larger vessel was valued at about 5 million baht, he said. He normally operates trips to Racha Island and Coral Island, but was forced to cancel fully booked tours on Tuesday, affecting more than 100 tourists.

“The damage is enormous,” he said.