SAMUT PRAKAN: A mobile phone being recharged inside a van burst into flames which rapidly spread and gutted the vehicle in Phra Pradaeng district early on Monday morning.
The fire occurred at a car care centre in the parking lot of Pacific Condominium on Rang Rod Fai Sai Pak Nam Road in tambon Samrong Tai about 12.30am.
Three fire engines and crews were deployed to the scene and quickly extinguished the flames.
Thanakit Klinsookhom, 40, the owner of the silver Toyota van registered in Bangkok said he started recharging his mobile phone inside his van about 11pm on Sunday and left it there with the side door open. He was sitting with his friend in front of the van.
Around midnight he heard a small explosion and saw a fire burning inside the van. He and other people tried to put it out with extinguishers, but to no avail.
The flames spread quickly through the van, gutting it, and also damaged the roof of the car care centre before a fire engine arrived.