A 26-year-old British holidaymaker is missing after the dive boat she was travelling on caught fire off the Thai island of Koh Tao.
Alexandra Clarke, from Lambeth in south London, was among 15 other tourists onboard the Davy Jones Locker.
She had reportedly surfaced from a dive to use the boat’s toilet when the fire broke out shortly before 9.30am on Sunday.
All other passengers, two crew members and four dive instructors and assistants were rescued from the boat by other vessels in the area.
It was only later that Thai authorities discovered that Alexandra was missing, according to local reports.
The fire broke out in the engine room of the boat when it was between five and six nautical miles from the island, say authorities.
Captain Natthaphon Sinpoonphon, the Deputy Director of the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre of Surat Thani, said it ‘spread through the boat rapidly’.
“Preliminary reports indicate that the engine room, captain’s cabin and rear restroom were damaged,” he added. “The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.”
It is understood rescue teams were initially unable to get close to the boat because of the flames and fears of further explosions from fuel onboard.
Mr Sinpoonphon said: “The search is continuing for one missing tourist, a female, Alexandra Clarke, from the United Kingdom.
“The conditions at sea are dangerous with the wind and currents. All boats in the area have been notified. Search and rescue teams were immediately mobilised.”
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.”
A video of the fire has been shared on social media.
*Image is from the video above
