Eighteen passengers were injured by an explosion and fire aboard a passenger ferry on the Chumphon-Koh Tao route, in the sea about 5 kilometres off the Chumphon coast, on Wednesday afternoon.
Police and rescue workers raced to help injured passengers off the burning boat, near Koh Ka in tambon Hat Sairee, in Muang district, Chumphon. The injured mostly suffered burns,
Other passengers jumped into the sea.
There was an explosion on the ferry, operated by Lomprayah Co, around 2.30pm.
Police said the engine exploded. The fire spread from there, Thai media reported.
Rescue workers bring injured passengers ashore and take them to hospitals after a ferry operating on the Chumphon-Koh Tao route exploded at sea on Wednesday afternoon. (Photo: Chumphonkarnkusolsongkhoh foundation Facebook page)
The ferry, operated by Lomprayah Co, explodes and catches fire off the coast of Chumphon province. Eighteen passengers were injured and rescued. (Photos: Chumphonkarnkusolsongkhoh foundation Facebook)