4-4-2024 (BANGKOK) A passenger boat incident off the coast of Koh Tao resulted in injuries to approximately 10 passengers on Thursday morning. The accident occurred approximately two to three nautical miles from the island. Nearby vessels rushed to the scene to assist passengers who had jumped into the sea, as reported on the Disaster and Mitigation Special Unit’s Facebook page.
All 108 individuals aboard the vessel, comprising 97 Thai and foreign passengers and 11 crew members, were safely brought ashore by 8 am. The fire aboard the boat was successfully contained by 8:20 am.
Ten passengers were transported to Koh Tao Hospital for medical treatment. Nine of them exhibited symptoms of smoke inhalation, while one Myanmar worker sustained a broken arm after leaping from the boat.
Despite extinguishing the fire, officials encountered difficulties in assessing the extent of damage due to residual heat within the vessel, explained Koh Tao Police Station superintendent Pol Colonel Chokchai Suthimek. Law enforcement officers will initiate evidence collection and interrogations to ascertain the cause of the incident.
Pramuan Tessana, director of the Regional Harbour Office in Surat Thani, suggested that the fire likely originated in the engine room, where various components, including the water pump, electricity generator, motor, and fuel, could potentially trigger a fire. He affirmed that the vessel had received certification for seaworthiness from the Regional Harbour Office in Chumpon province and was equipped with fire extinguishers as per regulatory requirements.
Tessana further stated that an investigative committee would be established to probe the incident, with the process expected to span 30 days.
Watcharin Fasiriporn, mayor of the Koh Tao subdistrict, reassured that the incident had not impacted tourists’ confidence in visiting Koh Tao, as alternative boats remained available for transportation. However, he acknowledged potential disruptions to cargo transportation between the island and the mainland. “Boat operators have mobilised spare cargo vessels to alleviate transportation challenges,” he affirmed.
