British vacationer lacking after boat catches hearth off Thai island | Thailand

A British vacationer is lacking in Thailand after the tour boat she was travelling on caught hearth off the island of Koh Tao.

Alexandra Clarke, 26, from Lambeth, south London, was onboard the Davy Jones Locker for a diving tour.

She was reportedly within the rest room when the blaze broke out, simply earlier than a misery sign was despatched at 9.25am native time.

There have been 21 different folks onboard, together with 15 vacationers, two crew members and 4 diving instructors and assistants.

They have been safely evacuated by personal vessels and volunteers whereas a second staff of volunteers labored to place out the blaze. Thai authorities then found Clarke was lacking.

Capt Natthaphon Sinpoonphon, the deputy director of the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre of Surat Thani, mentioned the boat was between 5 and 6 nautical miles away from the island when a fireplace began within the engine room and “unfold via the boat quickly”.

He mentioned: “Preliminary experiences point out that the engine room, captain’s cabin and rear restroom have been broken. The precise explanation for the hearth stays below investigation.”

It’s understood rescue groups have been initially unable to get near the boat due to the flames, as there have been fears of additional explosions from gasoline onboard the vessel.

Sinpoonphon mentioned: “The search is continuous for one lacking vacationer, a feminine, Alexandra Clarke, from the UK.

“The situations at sea are harmful with the wind and currents. All boats within the space have been notified. Search and rescue groups have been instantly mobilised.”

A spokesperson for the Overseas Workplace mentioned: “We’re supporting the household of a British lady who’s lacking in Thailand and are in touch with native authorities.”

A video shared on social media confirmed the boat engulfed in flames.

The Davy Jones Locker was reportedly transporting vacationers from Koh Tao, a small island that varieties a part of the Chumphon Archipelago, to a close-by diving web site at South-west Pinnacle.