PATHUM THANI: A truck caught fire and exploded while topping up with gas at an NGV station in Khlong Luang district in the early hours of Thursday. The driver safely fled the inferno.

The incident occurred at a filling station near the motorway in tambon Khlong Si about 3.30am, said police.

The trailer truck was already engulfed in flames when six fire trucks and crews arrived 

It took them about 20 minutes to extinguish the blaze. The truck, trailer and cargo were destroyed by the flames and the filling station severely damaged, but there were no injuries reported.

Driver Chamnarn Chachamnarn, 57, told police he was taking cargo to a warehouse in Bangkok’s Ram Intra. It was raining and he pulled into the NGV station, intending to top up and rest.  

While still filing up with gas, the truck suddenly caught fire. He jumped from the cab and fled the vehicle. The flames quickly spread around the wheels and the NGV gas nozzle. He and PTT employees tried unsuccessfully to extinguish the flames before fire crews arrived. 

The driver was being questioned further. Forensic officers were at the scene to help establish the cause of the fire.