Thai ferry fire: Authorities blaze into action saving all aboard (video)

[webfact]

 

The Thai authorities successfully rescued 97 passengers and 11 crew members after a fire broke out on an overnight ferry travelling from the mainland in the southern province of Surat Thani to Koh Tao.

 

ThaiRath reported that the fire started in the engine room of the Koh Charoen 2 ferry at around 6.30 am today, April 4, when the boat was about 4 to 6 kilometres away from Koh Tao.

 

The ferry was carrying goods and 108 people, including 97 Thai and foreign passengers, as well as 11 boat crew members. It departed from a pier in Surat Thani last night, around 11pm. The fire alert shocked and frightened passengers, leading some to flee the ferry by jumping into the sea.

The fire was reported to Koh Tao Police Station officers who coordinated authorities from the relevant departments until they managed to rescue all of 108 victims. Some suffered minor injuries, mostly from smoke inhalation.

Fire and smoke continued to envelop the bow of the ferry, prompting authorities to tow it to the pier on Koh Tao for extinguishing the blaze. Further investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.

 

A similar fire incident was reported on a dive tour boat docked at Thap Lamu Pier in the southern province of Phang Nga on April 2. The entire boat was damaged and sank under the sea near the pier. Fortunately, no one was on the boat during the incident, and no injuries were reported.

 

Another ship fire occurred at Laem Thian Pier within the Sattahip Naval Base in Chon Buri province in March when the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) ship HTMS Chon Buri accidentally fired at another naval ship, HTMS Khirirat. The shooting caused an explosion and fire that injured 14 sailors on the ship.

 

The accidental weapon discharge reportedly occurred due to authorities’ recklessness in following safety measures after the battleship training. Each affected sailor reportedly sustained only minor injuries. Authorities insisted that HTMS Khirirat did not sustain much damage as well.

 

 

 

 

by Petch Petpailin 

Photo via Facebook/ กระแสข่าวพัทลุง

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-04-04

 

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[Tropicalevo]

Not a good year to be on these old ferries.

There was also the overnight one that sank off Koh Tao.

Was that the same company?

[Hummin]

Back in the days when I took the night ferry from Koh Tao to Surat Thani. 

 

Both exits almost covered in luggage. 

 

Safety first my xxx

[Callmeishmael]

40 minutes ago, webfact said:

Fire and smoke continued to envelop the bow of the ferry, prompting authorities to tow it to the pier on Koh Tao for extinguishing the blaze.

The picture shows the fire at the stern of the boat, which is consistent with the fire starting in the engine room.

 

 

[deleted]

[brianthainess]

11 crew, and it seems naff all on board to put out a fire.

Are they trying o kill people now while approaching death Island ? 

[spidermike007]

Would anybody like to venture a guess as to what the age of this ferry was?

 

I'm guessing 70 years old. Thailand has a lot of ancient ferries, that are still in use and I can't imagine that the inspection, nor the maintenance procedures are all that stringent. 

[Korat Kiwi]

I was surprised by the calmest of the passengers.  It's like it's an everyday occurrence.  Even the amount without their life jackets on. 

 

Surprised no one drowned. 

 

The people on the upper deck with engine fire below.... what's with that?  BBQ time?  Crazy stuff. 

[Snig27]

11 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Would anybody like to venture a guess as to what the age of this ferry was?

 

I'm guessing 70 years old. Thailand has a lot of ancient ferries, that are still in use and I can't imagine that the inspection, nor the maintenance procedures are all that stringent. 

 

As we know, they are not even that stringent in the navy, with ships sinking in the gulf in still unexplained ways. 

[Tom89]

Many years ago when I was taking these ferries I never slept below deck. 

[Roo Island]

I've been on many different ferries here, none seem up to snuff or safe. But what can you do?

[stix40]

Surprised to see life vest

Normaly rubber ring with swans head😜

[Burma Bill]

47 minutes ago, webfact said:

a fire broke out on an overnight ferry

 

IMO, congratulations and praise must go to the Thai Rescue authorities for saving all the passengers and crew members lives in a timely manner - it must have been very traumatic for many of the folk on board.

 

TAT may I suggest you change your slogan to "Unsafe & Untrusted Thailand" - get your act together! Marine accidents appear to be as common as Inter-Provincial bus accidents these days.

 

[Korat Kiwi]

The Philippines went though a through safety clamp down a few years back.  Many ferries were sinking due to poor/no maintenance.  Loss of life was great. 

 

I believe it's a lot better now and as there are over 1700 islands in the Phils, boating is a way of life. Kids learn to swim very early on in their life. 👍

[nahkit]

25 minutes ago, Korat Kiwi said:

The people on the upper deck with engine fire below.... what's with that?

I'm guessing that the location of the fire meant the stairs couldn't be used?

[dougieboy]

Did this boat not have those self inflating life rafts?

I guess not as surely they would have begun evacuating the boat minus 1 or 2 crew members. 
Did they even carry enough life vests for everyone?

Oh dear, making money seems to be the number one priority again. 

[ChaiyaTH]

This is like the 4th ferry in 1.5 year time over there, that get in trouble.

[Mywayboy]

Captain was Smoking a joint on the bridge maybe.

[ChaiyaTH]

3 minutes ago, Mywayboy said:

Captain was Smoking a joint on the bridge maybe.

Can smoke on the boat anyways, so that is actually a probability.

[Tug]

Well fortunately no one was killed that being said by the looks of that tub it probably wouldn’t pass inspection without the aid of a big brown envelope…….definitely stay on deck and know were the life jackets are !

[Cabradelmar]

101 ways to die on Death island... 

[ryandb]

Never done the night ferry, but take Seatran quite often, must invest in my own lifejacket as they might not be inspecting those regulary

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, Callmeishmael said:

The picture shows the fire at the stern of the boat, which is consistent with the fire starting in the engine room.

You think?...

"ThaiRath reported that the fire started in the engine room..."

[richard_smith237]

26 minutes ago, dougieboy said:

Did this boat not have those self inflating life rafts?

I guess not as surely they would have begun evacuating the boat minus 1 or 2 crew members. 
Did they even carry enough life vests for everyone?

Oh dear, making money seems to be the number one priority again. 

 

Those 'self inflating life rafts' are ridiculously expensive and then need recertification every few years which once again is ridiculously expensive....  

....  Ferry Companies would go out of business if they had all these expensive 'rafts' etc - because people would only want to pay for the cheapest options and that would be the companies without the extra safety measures. 

... No one wants to pay extra for or consider better safety until something terrible happens.

 

Life-Vests must of course exists for everyone and this has been the case for years since a number of deadly disasters years ago, however, who inspects the boats ????   could it be lazy officials who don't care and are happy to take a couple of thousand baht to look the other way?

 

 

Regardless - this is one of those disasters where on one was hurt or died, Thailand and the people on the boat got lucky this time. 

 

Things go wrong and disasters happen, thats normal - its not so normal for the same issues to repeatedly occur and what we see in Thailand (*as we used to a lot in the Phils until there were major effective clampdowns) is continued 'passenger boat sinking' issues. 

 

When owners are held legally and financially accountable and they can't deflect blame to the 'boat captains' (term used very loosely) will these issues improve. 

 

Just like using busses and mini-vans etc, use the boats at your own risk seems to be the modus operandi. 

 

 

 

 

 

[frank83628]

1 hour ago, Korat Kiwi said:

I was surprised by the calmest of the passengers.  It's like it's an everyday occurrence.  Even the amount without their life jackets on. 

 

Surprised no one drowned. 

 

The people on the upper deck with engine fire below.... what's with that?  BBQ time?  Crazy stuff. 

the upper levels are the beds, the boat was full of supplies so not exactly much free space for 100 people, you can only stand down 1 side, the roof or rear deck.

[richard_smith237]

12 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

1 hour ago, Callmeishmael said:

The picture shows the fire at the stern of the boat, which is consistent with the fire starting in the engine room.

You think?...

"ThaiRath reported that the fire started in the engine room..."

 

I think he was referring to this point.....  Where there seesm to be some contradiction in the reporting that the fire is shown to be at the rear of the boat, yet it was reported that 'fire and smoke continued to envelop the bow of the ferry'...

 

 

My guess here is that the reporter is simply mixed up the Stern and Bow...

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Fire and smoke continued to envelop the bow of the ferry,

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, Roo Island said:

I've been on many different ferries here, none seem up to snuff or safe. But what can you do?

Vote with your feet... 

[sammieuk1]

If only some water had been available 🤔

[Photoguy21]

With all the "blazing" into action, wouldnt it be better to check and ensure safety standards before the boat leaves the dock? Proper regular safety checks. Not up to standard not allowed out until all issues have been rectified to a good (international) standard.

[john donson]

just another day in 'paradise'

[Srikcir]

Given the size of the fire and its penetration to the deck, it's questionable that there was any fire prevention/fighting systems in the engine room. Also seems little to no fire suppression by the crew. Certainly no passenger safety procedures or escape equipment in the event of a fire. Operators and oversight government department should be questioned with prejudice.