A FIRE completely gutted a speed boat that had brought 20 Arab tourists from Phuket to a beach at adjacent Phang Nga province while it was moored and waiting to take them back to the famous tourist island, the Thai-language daily Matichon reported today (August 13, 2018).
Mr Natchapong Pranit, director of the Marine Department Office in Phang Nga, said the blaze completely destroyed the 2-engine speed boat named BBC Lion 9 with its registration number being 595105565. This boat was made of fiberglass and weighed 13.16 gross tons.
Upon being questioned the boat’s captain, Mr Wanchart Unkhao, said the boat had sailed from Laem Sai in Phuket with the 20 Arab tourists on board and moored at a beautiful beach in Phang Nga’s Takua Thung district.
While waiting to take the tourists back to Phuket the captain said he suddenly heard 3 blasts from the boat after which flames flew up and quickly spread.
A deckhand, Mr Sunkiplee Phanomchai, who was on board at the time, got injured and was first rushed to Takua Thung hospital and then later sent to Thalang hospital in Phuket.
The tourists were completely unharmed and the captain liaised and got another boat to take them back to Phuket.
Phang Nga’s Marine Department Office is investigating what caused the fire and if any wrongdoing is found legal action will be taken.
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Top and below: The tourist boat ablaze at a Phang Nga beach today. Photos: Matichon
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