Tour Boat Explosion Near Phuket Injures Six Tourists

Tour Boat Explosion Near Phuket Injures Six Tourists

A terrifying incident unfolded off the coast of Phuket as a speedboat carrying 33 tourists caught fire and exploded near Koh Mai Thon. The vessel, Thana Marine 555, had departed from Tha Chalong Pier on a sightseeing and snorkelling trip when it encountered engine trouble around 9am. Moments later, it erupted into flames.

Fortunately, most of the passengers were already in the water at the time of the blast. The captain and two crew members remained aboard, with the captain and one crew member suffering burn injuries. Other injuries were caused by flying debris from the explosion.

Emergency services, including maritime officials and the Thai Navy, responded quickly but were unable to save the vessel. The speedboat was completely engulfed before rescue efforts could intervene.
This incident has sparked widespread concern over boat safety standards in Thailand’s tourism sector. An investigation into the cause is underway, and officials are stressing the need for more stringent safety protocols among tour operators.

As Thailand continues to attract tourists to its islands and waters, this tragedy serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of emergency preparedness.

#PhuketNews #BoatExplosion #ThailandTourism #KohMaiThon #MarineSafety #ThaiNavy #TouristSafety #SnorkellingAccident #SpeedboatFire #PhuketTravel