One killed after dive tour boat catches fire off Koh Tao, Thailand

The Bangkok Post reports that one person was killed after a fire broke out on a dive tour boat off the resort island of Koh Tao in southern Thailand on Sunday, March 16.

Local police said that the deceased female victim, identified as a 26-year-old British national, was believed to have gotten trapped in the toilet of the dive boat David Johne after a blaze ignited on board at around 10:00 local time on Sunday.

At the time of the incident, the dive boat was en route to the Southwest Pinnacle, a popular dive site located nine kilometres from the island, with 22 passengers and crew.

All the other occupants were safely rescued by the crews of some Good Samaritan boats that had arrived in the area to render assistance.

The deceased victim was initially reported as missing. Her charred remains were later found on board the dive boat as local authorities conducted a survey of the wreck well after the fire was finally extinguished.

The boat has since been towed to shore to enable investigators to identify the events that led to the incident.