Ferry passengers jump in sea to escape blaze
PANICKED passengers jumped ferry fire in the Gulf of Thailand into the sea to escape a raging yesterday.
It has been confirmed that all 108 people on board are safe.
The overnight ferry from Surat Thani province was about to arrive at Koh Tao, a popular tourist destination off the Thai coast, early on Thursday morning when one of the passengers heard a crackling sound and smelled smoke.
Maitree Promjampa said he saw billowing smoke and fire less than five minutes later which was when people on board the boat started shouting and rang the alarm.
“We could barely get the life vests in time,” he told The Associated Press.
“It was chaotic. People were weeping…I also teared up.”
Of the 108 people on the ferry, 97 were passengers, Surat Thani officials said in a statement which was posted on its Facebook page.
The province’s public relations department posted that everyone was rescued with no casualties.
Videos showed people hurrying out of the ferry’s cabin while putting on life vests as thick black smoke swept across the ferry.
The vessel was later engulfed in fire which led to some passengers taking a desperate course of action.
Maitree, a Surat Thani resident who often travels to Koh Tao for work, said several boats came to their rescue around 20 minutes after they called for help but the boats could not get close to the ferry for fear of explosions.
He said people had to jump into the sea to be rescued.
Videos showed the ferry was also carrying several vehicles.
“Everyone had to help themselves,” he said.
Officials said the fire had since been brought under control.
It began in the engine but the cause is being investigated with enquiries ongoing.
The vessel did not sink.
The ferry from Surat Thani to Koh Tao carries both commuters and tourists.
Koh Tao is about 100 kilometres (62 miles) from the coast.