British tourist missing after Koh Tao blaze
A British tourist in Thailand was reportedly missing because a ship caught fire on the coast of Kotao Island.
Surat Thani’s provincial public relations office said Alexandra Clarke, 26, of Lambeth, south London, was the only tourist missing after the incident.
In a Facebook post, local officials said they believed 16 tourists were on the diving boat, known as Davy Jones Locker, when a fire broke out in the engine room on the boat at 09:00 ITC (02:00 GMT).
A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “We are supporting a family of British women who have disappeared in Thailand and come into contact with local authorities.”
According to local authorities, four crew members, two diving coaches and two assistant diving coaches were also on board.
“After receiving the report of the (fire), Surat Tani Provincial Ocean Office coordinated with private boats and volunteers to quickly help evacuate tourists and crews safely evacuate another boat.”
It added: “A tourist was missing, a woman named Alexandra Clarke, a woman named British National.
“So the authorities organized a search team for the missing persons.”
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
