By Mark ‘Crowley’ Russell
A 26-year-old British woman from Lambeth, London, has been reported missing after a fire broke out on board a dive boat in Koh Tao, Thailand.
Alexandra May Clarke was reportedly inside the boat’s toilet when the blaze began in the engine room at approximately 10 am (local time) on Sunday morning.
Koh Tao police said at least 15 other tourists were on board the boat, named Davy Jones Locker, along with two crewmembers and four dive professionals. Most were forced to jump into the water and were rescued by nearby vessels.
Thai Navy divers searched the immediate area and the wreckage of the boat, which subsequently sank, but were unable to locate Ms Clarke.
The fire is believed to have started due to a fuel spillage in the ‘engine’, although it is uncertain which ‘engine’ is being referred to in news reports – either the main engine of the boat or that of the compressor used to fill the scuba tanks.
Colonel Sarayuth Buriwachira of the Koh Tao Police said: ‘An employee on the ship whose duty was to fill the air tank took extra gasoline to fill the engine tank above the amount until the gasoline overflowed and spilled.
‘When he started the engine, a spark occurred, causing the engine to catch fire and spread, causing the entire ship to burn and eventually sink into the sea.’
While the precise cause of the fire remains undetermined, Captain Natthaphon Sinpoonphon, director of the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre of Surat Thani, said that ‘Preliminary reports indicate that the engine room, captain’s cabin and rear restroom were damaged.’
A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said: ‘We are supporting the family of a British woman who is missing in Thailand and are in contact with local authorities.’
The search for Ms Clarke has been hampered by rough weather following the blaze and is set to resume on Tuesday morning.
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