Ferryboat burned in Thailand: 108 people rescued

A total of 108 people were rescued at the last moment from a ferryboat ablaze in the middle of the sea in Thailand.
A fire broke out in the engine room of the ferryboat named Koh Charoen-2, which was transporting passengers from Surat Thani province in southern Thailand to Koh Tao Island, for unknown reasons early in the morning. While the flames quickly spread to other parts of the ferryboat, passengers took refuge in the front part of the ferryboat during the fire. It was observed that smoke was emanating from the wooden floor of the ferryboat during the panic-stricken incident. Some panicked passengers were reported to have jumped into the sea, while initial aid to the ferryboat was provided by nearby boats. The fire broke out on the ferryboat shortly before reaching its destination after about 6 hours of travel, averting a major disaster. A total of 97 passengers and 11 crew members on board were rescued by rescue teams, and after the operation, it was observed that the flames engulfed the entire ferryboat. Passengers affected by smoke were brought to the island by rescue boats and then transferred to the hospital by ambulances.
The ferryboat, rendered unusable, was towed to the shore by the Thai Coast Guard teams, and an investigation into the incident was initiated.