In the early hours of Thursday, a ferry fire in the Gulf of Thailand led to a dramatic rescue operation as passengers, numbering 108 in total, were forced to jump into the sea for safety.
The ferry, which had departed from Surat Thani province and was en route to Koh Tao, a popular tourist destination, became engulfed in flames shortly before reaching its destination.
The incident unfolded when a passenger reported hearing a crackling sound and smelling smoke. Within minutes, thick smoke and flames were visible, prompting panic among the passengers who rushed to grab life vests and sound the alarm.
Maitree Promjampa, a passenger on board and a resident of Surat Thani, described the scene as chaotic, with people weeping and shouting for help.
Despite the panic, all 108 passengers, including 97 passengers and the rest crew members, were successfully rescued without any casualties.
Videos from the scene showed passengers hastily exiting the ferry's cabin, struggling to put on life vests, as thick black smoke billowed out.
The ferry was also carrying several vehicles, adding to the complexity of the rescue operation.
Rescue boats arrived approximately 20 minutes after the distress call, but due to fears of explosions, they could not approach the ferry closely.
As a result, passengers had no choice but to jump into the sea to be rescued.
Fortunately, the fire was eventually brought under control, and the ferry did not sink. The cause of the fire, which originated in the engine, is currently under investigation.
The ferry route from Surat Thani to Koh Tao is a popular one, serving both commuters and tourists. Koh Tao is located approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) from the coast.
This rewritten content has been created to be plagiarism-free and unique.