Eighteen passengers were injured when a speedboat travelling from Chumphon to Koh Tao caught fire five kilometres off the Chumphon coast yesterday afternoon.
Police and rescue workers helped passengers who had escaped the burning vessel at Koh Ka in tambon Hat Sairee of Muang district. The boat was carrying 20 people including the driver and one other crew member.
Most passengers jumped into the sea and were slightly injured while the other four suffered burns.
All 20 were sent to Chumphon and Pak Nam Chumphon hospitals.
According to the Chumphon Karnkusolsongkhoh Foundation, an explosion on the speedboat operated by Lomprayah Co occurred around 2.30pm, or 20 minutes after it had departed from the pier in Muang district.
Police said one of its three engines had exploded.
Chumphon governor Chotnarin Kerdsom visited the passengers in hospital. He described it as an accident and ordered all service operators to check the condition of their engines.