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Thailand Passengers Miraculously Escape Ship Fire

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

BANGKOK (Worthy News) – All people on board a burning ferry were miraculously safe Friday, including many passengers who jumped into the sea to escape the large fire that engulfed the vessel in the Gulf of Thailand, officials said.

There were 108 people on board the Ko Jaroen 2, including 97 passengers and 11 Burmese boat crew members, all of whom survived, according to local authorities.

The overnight ferry from Surat Thani province was reportedly about to reach its destination, the famous tourist island of Koh Tao, when one of the passengers heard a crackling sound, witnesses said.

The passengers also reported that they smelled smoke.

Within five minutes, flames engulfed the ferry, and plumes of thick smoke rose from the vessel. Panicked passengers on board started jumping into the sea, footage showed.

One passenger, Maitree Promjampa, recalled, “We could barely get the life vests in time. It was chaotic. People were weeping … I also teared up.”

As they reached the shores, several passengers were rushed to hospital for smoke inhalation, officials said.

QUESTIONS REMAINED

Questions remained as to why the fire broke out.

Police Colonel Chokchai Sutthimek, superintendent of the Koh Tao Police Station, said the vessel was mid-sea and approaching the pier at Koh Tao at around 6:30 a.m. local time when the fire broke out.

“The fire originated in the engine room while the boat was mid-sea and approaching the pier at Koh Tao, causing panic among passengers, some of whom jumped overboard,” Sutthimek confirmed.

Boats from Koh Tao immediately rushed to aid passengers and crew, all successfully rescued.

The fire was contained by 8.20 am local time.

Thailand has had more deadly boat incidents in recent years. In July 2018, two tourist boats capsized in the country’s Phuket Province, killing 47 Chinese tourists.