Thailand Ferry Fire Incident
On April 4, a ferry in the Gulf of Thailand caught fire, leading to a dramatic rescue operation as all 108 passengers on board had to jump into the sea to save their lives.
Details of the Incident
- The ferry, named Ko Jaroen 2, was en route from Surat Thani province to Koh Tao, a popular tourist island located 60 miles off the coast.
- The fire broke out around 7:00 AM when the ferry was near its destination.
- There were 11 crew members and 97 passengers on board, with some individuals sustaining minor injuries and smoke inhalation issues.
Rescue Operation
Local emergency services were alerted to the fire at 6:40 AM, and several boats arrived at the scene approximately 20 minutes later to rescue the passengers.
Due to the risk of explosions, the rescue boats could not approach the burning ferry closely, prompting passengers to jump into the sea for their safety.
One passenger, Maitree Promjampa, described the chaotic scene, stating, “We could barely get the life vests in time. It was chaotic. People were weeping … I also teared up.”
Aftermath and Response
The fire, which originated in the engine compartment, was eventually brought under control by officials around 8:20 PM local time. Fortunately, the ferry did not sink during the incident.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation as eyewitnesses reported seeing tourists from Ukraine among the passengers on board.
The video footage of passengers rushing out of the ferry’s cabin, donning life vests as thick black smoke engulfed the vessel, has circulated widely on social media.
