When you think of a routine fuel drain, your mind might not immediately conjure images of exploding cars and billowing smoke. But in Pattaya, that’s exactly what unfolded in a dramatic scene straight out of an action movie. A simple fuel mix-up led to an explosive scenario after a misaligned Toyota Alphard erupted into flames at a local garage, setting ablaze a total of five vehicles and sending dark, ominous clouds wafting across Phonprapanimit Road. Imagine the chaos and panic when the calm was shattered by the roaring blaze!
At exactly 3:30 pm on an otherwise typical Saturday afternoon, the Somphot Service garage transformed into a fiery inferno that demanded immediate attention. The alarm bells were ringing and help in the form of fire engines was dispatched from all corners, under the directive of Police Lieutenant Boorapha Jaihan, Deputy Inspector of Nong Prue police. It was a united effort with rescue teams racing from the Nong Prue Municipality, Pattaya City, and the Pong subdistrict to engage the beastly blaze.
Upon reaching ground zero, the firefighters encountered burning intensity at its peak and made quick decisions to shut down traffic on both ends of the road, ensuring public safety. With hoses blasting full force, they battled fervently for over 40 minutes before the tremendous inferno finally yielded. The aftermath was heartbreaking: a completely charred Toyota Alphard, alongside a sedan, a pickup truck, all left in ruins, not to mention the garage’s tools and machinery reduced to burnt wreckage.
Amidst chaos, two unfortunate souls found themselves nursing injuries. A man bore the brunt of the blaze, suffering burns to his leg and necessitating hospital treatment. Meanwhile, 21-year-old Than Sae-lor, the Alphard’s owner, only sustained minor injuries but carried a story worth telling. Than described a day meant for a straightforward drive back to Bangkok, which took a drastic turn when his car was mistakenly filled with the wrong type of fuel. Upon advice, he stopped at Somphot Service for a quick fuel drain when the chaos ensued just as the finish line was in sight.
“There was barely any time. One moment we were handling fuel, and the next, flames were everywhere, leaping at us hungrily,” said Than, recalling the terrifying moment he and others from the garage, including an attendant from the petrol station, fled the scene, leaving everything else at the mercy of the fire.
In the aftermath of the blaze’s wrath, the cause remained elusive, with initial assessments pointing to a wayward spark igniting volatile vapors. Police and fire investigators are on the case, promising an exhaustive forensic examination to uncover the mystery behind the firestorm.
This Pattaya explosion adds to a series of fiery incidents like the one in Chon Buri’s Bang Lamung district last month when an early morning blaze engulfed a local fresh produce store, sparking panic and pressing fears of an expanding inferno reaching a nearby fireworks depot. Such incidents strip away any notions of complacency, reminding everyone of how quick accidents can spin entirely out of control.
Even though the dust has settled over Pattaya’s fire fiasco, the memories of the disaster are etched in the minds of those who witnessed it firsthand — a loud testament to the lurking, unpredictable nature of fire hazards, especially when dealing with fuel.
This is insane! A simple fuel drain leading to an explosion? It’s a miracle that only two people were hurt.
It’s more common than you’d think. Fuel vapors are highly combustible, and it only takes one spark.
Still, you would expect garages to have measures to prevent this.
Totally true. Safety protocols should be mandatory to avoid such calamities.
I can’t believe the garage didn’t have better fire prevention systems in place. Simple negligence!
Back in my day, we didn’t rely on technology. We practiced caution and common sense.
With modern cars and electronics, such explosions should be a thing of the past. This is a wake-up call!
I feel like incidents like these highlight why we need to transition to safer, more sustainable fuel options.
Exactly. Electric cars are less likely to cause such devastating fires compared to gasoline.
Electric cars have their own set of dangers. Battery fires are notoriously difficult to extinguish.
That’s idealistic but not practical. We can’t just abandon gasoline overnight.
The garage should cover all the damages. It’s their mistake after all.
Insurance will ultimately foot the bill, but the garage has to take responsibility.
I blame the car owner too. He should’ve checked the fuel type himself before driving away.
Mistakes happen. That doesn’t mean people deserve to have their cars explode.
Agreed. Safety is everyone’s responsibility.
This situation could have been so much worse if the fire spread to nearby businesses.
Glad no life was lost. But my heart goes to those affected financially by the damages.
More effective training for garage staff would definitely help prevent such accidents.
As much as human error is to blame, equipment failures could have played a role too.
Equipment should be regularly checked and maintained. No excuses!
Seems like an action movie scene happening in real life. It’s surreal reading about it.
Fire departments should use this incident as a training opportunity.
Good idea. Learning from this could save future lives.
Shocking negligence! I hope they find the real cause of the fire soon.
Investigations can take time, but they are crucial to prevent recurrence.
I really hope the affected individuals are compensated fairly for their losses.