Charred wreck sinks off Nakhon Si Thammarat, leaving nothing but an oil slick behindListen to this articleFlames engulf a boat after fire broke out around 3am on Wednesday, about 2-3km off the coast of Nakhon Si Thammarat, near Tha Sala Bay. NAKHON SI THAMMARAT - A large vessel that became engulfed in flames off the coast of this southern province was not a fishing boat as first assumed, but was carrying smuggled oil, according to sources familiar with the case. The fire reportedly broke out around 3am on Wednesday when the vessel was 2–3 kilometres from the coast, near Tha Sala Bay in the southern province. Further investigation revealed that the craft was not a fishing boat, but an illegal oil transport ship heading towards the Tha Sung estuary — an area known as a major hub for illegal fuel shipments being brought ashore. Marine authorities first voiced their suspicions because the fire was extremely intense, which indicates that there had to be a large quantity of fuel on board — far more than a fishing boat would need.

Source: Bangkok Post January 22, 2026 12:50 UTC