CHON BURI – A parked tour bus set to pick up Chinese tourists burst into flames at a petrol station in Bang Lamung district in the early hours of Thursday with the sleeping driver escaping unhurt.
The fire broke out at Siam Best NGV gas station on Highway 36 in tambon Nong Plalai of Bang Lamung district, said the Pattaya-based Sawang Boriboon rescue centre. The fire was reported around 3.30am on Thursday.
A fire truck and firemen were deployed to combat the fire on the Bangkok-registered coach. Firefighters took more than 30 minutes to bring the flames under control. The NGV-powered tour bus, belonging to Golden Thai Travel Co, was badly damaged.
Driver Sathit Kachai, 27, said he stopped the bus overnight at the NGV station before going to pick up Chinese tourists at a hotel outside Pattaya this morning.
After all eight gas tanks were, he went to sleep. The smell of smoke awoke him and he found flames coming from the front of the coach. He escaped safely.
Police were investigating the cause of the fire.