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Explosion and major fire: chaos in Phuket destroys tourist boats!
In Phuket, 23 speedboats caught fire after an explosion. Authorities are investigating, holiday warnings apply.
Explosion and major fire: chaos in Phuket destroys tourist boats!
An early morning on Phuket turned into a scenario of destruction on January 9, 2026. At around 3:50 a.m. local time, the police and fire brigade were alerted by hotel employees who noticed flames and thick smoke over Chalong Bay. The first explosion occurred on a speedboat that usually takes tourists to the most beautiful tourist destinations. The strong winds caused the flames to quickly spread to a total of 23 boats, which were fully fueled for the next three-day trips.
The extinguishing work turned out to be extremely difficult. The emergency services had to separate the boats from each other with ropes to prevent the fire from spreading further. After several hours of hard work, the last embers were finally extinguished. The damage caused by the fire is estimated at around 38 million baht, which is around 1 million euros. The police and the marine authorities have already started investigations and are also evaluating video camera recordings that were made in the port area.
Water sports and tourism hotspot in danger
Chalong Bay is a major destination for water sports enthusiasts and divers, and it is also a central hub for leisure excursions. Every year, Phuket attracts more than five million tourists who choose this part of Thailand as one of their top travel destinations. The government has already taken measures to monitor swimming conditions in the area and is warning holidaymakers about the dangers posed by debris and oil spills in the water. However, the water quality itself is classified as good.
These dramatic events have all eyes on Chalong Bay. While the authorities continue to monitor the situation, it is hoped that the situation can soon stabilize and tourists can continue to enjoy their holidays here safely in the future. The clean-up work and investigations are in full swing to regain trust and soon make the bay an attractive destination for sun seekers and adventure seekers.