A British tourist is missing after a fire broke out on a dive boat off the island of Koh Tao in Thailand.
Alexandra Clarke, 26, a backpacker from Lambeth, in London was reportedly using the toilet when the blaze started in the engine of the wooden vessel this morning.
According to officials, 16 tourists were onboard the boat, called Davy Jones Locker, as well as two crew and four instructors from the scuba diving company.
It’s believed they were rescued by passing boats but Alexandra was still unaccounted for on Sunday afternoon and it’s feared she may have been killed by the fire.
Compressed air in the dive tanks filled to 3,000psi as well as fuel onboard are thought to have helped the blaze move quickly through the vessel.
The toilet is often located at the back of the boat on the bottom deck next to the engine.
Footage shows how the inferno ravaged the large wooden cabin at the rear of the boat as shocked holidaymakers on passing boats looked on.
Captain Natthaphon Sinpoonphon, deputy director of the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Center of Surat Thani, said the blaze started at around 9am local time. An emergency call was received shortly after.
‘The boat was carrying a group of tourists for a diving excursion from Koh Tao. It was between five and six nautical miles away from the island,’ he said.
‘A fire started in the engine room and spread through the boat rapidly.
‘Thai-MECC Surat Thani coordinated with private vessels and volunteers to safely evacuate the tourists and crew members onto another boat.
‘Meanwhile, another team of volunteers worked to control the fire. Preliminary reports indicate that the engine room, captain’s cabin, and rear restroom were damaged. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.’
Lieutenant Colonel Nattapol Sinpunphol, deputy director of the Surat Thani Marine Department, said rescue teams were initially unable to get close to the boat because of the flames.
There were also fears of further explosions from the tanks and fuel onboard.
He added: ‘The search is continuing for one missing tourist, a female, Alexandra Clarke, from the United Kingdom.
‘The conditions at sea are dangerous with the wind and currents. All boats in the area have been notified. Search and rescue teams were immediately mobilised.’
Koh Tao is one of the world’s most popular scuba diving locations but it has been dubbed ‘Death Island’ due to the alarming number of young tourists who have died in mysterious circumstances.
Dozens have been killed – though the actual number could be much higher, with many deaths covered up to protect the lucrative tourism industry.
The most high-profile case was the death of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller, who were bludgeoned to death on Sairee Beach in in September 2014.
Two Burmese labourers were allegedly framed for the murders to protect the real killer – the son of a prominent local family – and wrap the case up quickly amid unwanted international scrutiny.
Prominent Australian lawyer Ian Yarwood, who has campaigned for the two Burmese boys to be released, has made repeated calls for tourists to avoid the island due to ‘crime, corruption and poor health and safety’.
He added: ‘Koh Tao is not a safe place for anyone to visit. The island is controlled by one or two powerful local families and police work hard to cover up anything negative.’
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