AP
Updated Thursday, April 4, 2024-10:59
Frightened ferry passengers
jumped
into the water this morning to try to escape a fire on a boat in the Gulf of Thailand. 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 on the Thai coast, when one of the passengers heard a sudden creak and smelled smoke. Maitree Promjampa said she saw plumes of smoke and fire less than five minutes later, and that was when people started screaming and the alarm was raised.
"We could barely grab the life jackets," he told The Associated Press. "It was chaotic. People were crying... I had tears in my eyes too," she added.
Of the 108 people on board, 97 were passengers, Surat Thani authorities explained on Facebook. According to the province's public relations department, everyone was rescued and there were no victims. Videos showed people rushing out of the ferry's cabin, putting on life jackets, as thick black smoke spread across the vessel, which was later engulfed in flames.
Maitree, a Surat Thani resident who often travels to Koh Tao for work, said
several boats came to his rescue
about 20 minutes after he called for help, but they could not get closer for fear of explosions. According to him, they had to jump into the sea to be rescued.
In the videos it was seen that
the ferry had several vehicles on board
. Authorities said the fire was under control. The fire started in the engine, but the cause is under investigation.