The overnight ferry from Surat Thani province was about to arrive at Koh Tao, a popular tourist destination off the Thai coast, when fire broke out early Thursday.
Panicked passengers can’t help it than to jump into the sea to escape the raging ferry fire in the Gulf of Thailand and all 108 people on board were safe.
Maitree Promjampa, a witness said he first saw billowing smoke and then, fire less than five minutes later.
‘We could barely get the life vests in time,’ he told The Associated Press. ‘It was chaotic. People were weeping … I also teared up.’
Videos showed people hurrying out of the ferry’s cabin while putting on life vests, as thick black smoke swept across the ferry. It was later engulfed in fire.
Good news! Surat Thani officials said on Facebook that everyone was rescued with no casualties – all108 people on the ferry.
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A resident who was ‘around’ witnessed that several boats came to their rescue around 20 minutes after they called for help, but the boats could not get close to the ferry out of 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.
What Caused the Fire?
The case is being investigated, but what can be established now is that the fire began in the engine, and the ferry did not sink.
