THE FIRE that spread on a night boat sailing from Surat Thani’s Don Sak pier to Koh Tao at 6.30 a.m. this morning (Apr. 4) has now been put out with all 97 passengers and 11 crew members safely rescued and taken to this island, Thai Rath newspaper and Sanook.com said this afternoon.
This boat, named Koh Charoen 2, had left Surat Thani’s pier at 11 p.m. last night and at dawn caught fire around two to three nautical miles off Koh Tao with this spreading out from the engine room.
On board were Thais, foreigners and some Myanmar workers plus the 11 crew members with the boat also carrying cargo.
Ten passengers suffered minor smoke inhalation injuries but one Myanmar worker broke his arm.
Thai Naval Region 2 has set up a coordination centre to help the victims.
Pol. Col. Chokchai Suthimek, superintendent of Koh Tao police station, said officials had sent a fireboat to extinguish the blaze and while it has now been put out, the boat, particularly the engine room, is still very hot and it is as yet impossible to board the vessel to investigate and survey the damage.
Police will be questioning those aboard the boat, particularly the crew, in finding out what happened and have also set up a help centre for all 108 travelling on this boat to report the belongings they lost in the blaze.
Mr. Watcharin Fahsiriporn, mayor of Koh Tao subdistrict, said boat service to Koh Tao would not be affected by the loss of this night boat with there being many boat companies providing passenger and cargo service from Chumphon, Surat Thani, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan to Koh Tao.
There is also enough food and daily supplies on the island but there could be a temporary shortage of other products.
Even so, the company that owns the fire-hit night boat is rushing to finish repairs of another boat and add it to the service.
CAPTION:
The night boat Koh Charoen 2 on fire and officials working to put it out. Photo first below: Sanook.com, rest Thai Rath
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