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A devastating fire ripped through a diving boat, named Davy Jones Locker, off the island of Koh Tao in Thailand, leaving a 26-year-old British backpacker, Alexandra Clarke, missing. The incident occurred on Sunday at 9:15 am local time, while Clarke was diving in the popular tourist spot.
According to reports, Clarke had asked guides if she could use the toilet before the blaze broke out. She entered the toilet facilities on the boat and was reportedly still inside when the fire started. The boat driver, a Myanmar crew member, and six tourists who witnessed the fire confirmed Clarke’s presence in the toilet to the police.
There were 22 people on board, including 16 tourists participating in diving activities, four diving instructors, a boat captain, and a crew member. Fortunately, all others on board were accounted for, but the search for Clarke continues.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire was caused by a malfunction that occurred while the diving tanks were being filled with compressed air. Captain Natthaphon Sinpoonphon, Deputy Director of the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Center of Surat Thani, reported that the blaze started around 9 am local time and spread rapidly through the boat.
Rescue efforts were initially hindered by harsh weather conditions and the intensity of the fire. However, Thai-MECC Surat Thani coordinated with private vessels and volunteers to safely evacuate the tourists and crew members onto another boat. The damaged boat was eventually towed to shore, but not before it suddenly sank, according to the Thai Examiner.
The incident is currently under investigation, with the exact cause of the fire still unknown. The FCDO has confirmed that they are supporting Clarke’s family and are in contact with local authorities.
