A fire tore through a three-storey commercial building in Karon, Phuket, early on 3 August, damaging restaurants and a massage spa. No injuries or deaths were reported after firefighters brought the blaze under control in around 40 minutes.

Karon Police were alerted at 6.40am to the fire in Soi Khok Tanod, on the route towards Kata Beach, in Karon subdistrict, Mueang Phuket district. Lieutenant Colonel Narutphon Kaewla, an investigating officer at Karon Police Station, informed Police Colonel Pathee Srichai, the station superintendent, before attending with Karon Municipality firefighters and other agencies.

Fire spreads through three floors

The building's ground floor housed Kiri Restaurant, which was serving breakfast to guests of Chookamaree Resort. A restaurant operated on the second floor, while the third floor was occupied by Pinewood Massage Onsen Spa.

Firefighters found flames burning intensely and deployed fire engines to stop the fire spreading to neighbouring buildings.

Initial police inquiries indicated that staff heard a popping sound from a light fitting in front of a lift while the restaurant was open. Sparks followed and the staff reported that an initial small fire broke out.

Employees reportedly used several fire extinguishers but could not contain the flames. The fire spread quickly to the second and third floors, where cloth, massage mattresses and other combustible materials helped it take hold.

Picture courtesy of kaoded

Damage assessment under way

All three floors of the building were damaged, and all property inside was reported destroyed. The value of the losses has not yet been assessed.

Police and forensic officers are examining the suspected point of origin and establish the exact cause of the fire before proceeding under the law.

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3 August 2026

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If the outside wiring seen across Thailand's so-called utility poles are any indication of what the internal wiring of this building was like then one can be pretty much assume how the fire started.