Pattaya, May 23rd, 2026
A dramatic vehicle fire broke out on Sukhumvit Road in Pattaya on Friday evening, completely destroying a white modified Mazda 3 driven by a 25-year-old Russian man just moments before he reached a local repair shop.
At approximately 7:50 PM on May 22nd, 2026, Pattaya Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Radio Center received reports of a severe car fire near the Chaiyapruk Intersection in Jomtien, on the inbound lane of Sukhumvit Road toward Sattahip. The incident occurred in front of a car repair garage in Moo 12.
Emergency responders, including two fire trucks from Pattaya City and rescue teams from Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation, were dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, they found a large crowd of onlookers gathered, causing significant traffic congestion.
The vehicle, a white Mazda 3 with Chonburi license plate ฉค 5323, was found fully engulfed in intense flames. Local residents attempted to extinguish the fire using chemical extinguishers, but the blaze was too fierce to control. Firefighters eventually brought the fire under control after approximately 20 minutes, though the car was completely burned out.
The driver, identified as Mr. Alex, a 25-year-old Russian national, told rescuers he was heading to his regular repair shop to have the vehicle inspected for abnormal noises. He had recently had the engine tuned at a shop in Bangkok.
According to Mr. Alex, while he was still several hundred meters from the garage, he heard a loud explosion from underneath the car, followed by thick smoke billowing out. He managed to keep the vehicle under control and pulled up in front of the repair shop. Shortly after turning off the engine and exiting the vehicle, flames suddenly erupted and rapidly consumed the entire car.
The garage manager, Mr. Sunny, confirmed that Alex was a regular customer. He noted that the Russian man had recently brought the car in because of unusual sounds coming from under the engine after the recent tuning work in Bangkok. Tragically, the fire occurred before the vehicle could be properly inspected.
CCTV footage from the repair shop captured the dramatic moment, showing the Mazda 3 pulling up with smoke pouring from the engine bay. The driver quickly got out, opened the hood, and waved for help as flames became visible. Within seconds, the fire spread uncontrollably, destroying the vehicle.
Additionally, a food delivery rider who was passing by managed to record part of the incident on video. The rider reported seeing smoke coming from the car while it was still moving on the road, with the fire erupting violently shortly after it stopped.
Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the fire, which is believed to have originated from beneath the vehicle following the explosion. No injuries were reported.
