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7 months ago
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Terrified passengers were seen leaping off a ferry engulfed in flames as the vessel made its way to Thailand's notorious 'Death Island' this morning.
The overnight The Ko Jaroen 2 ferry from Surat Thani province was about to arrive at Koh Tao, a popular tourist destination off the Thai coast, before it went up in smoke at around 6.30am local time.
Horror footage captured the moments after the blaze erupted, sending panicked tourists to the roof of the vessel as they desperately awaited rescue.
Some even made the brave jump overboard in a bid to escape the inferno.
At the time of the incident, 108 people were on board the ferry before one 'heard a crackling sound and smelled smoke'.
The Ko Jaroen 2 ferry caught fire this morning as it headed towards Koh Tao - dubbed 'Death Island'
Thick smoke was seen billowing into the air following the blaze
People scrambled to the top deck to escape the flames. Some reportedly jumped off the ferry before rescue teams arrived
Koh Tao is dubbed 'Death Island' following the brutal murders of British backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller in 2014
Maitree Promjampa said he saw billowing smoke and fire less than five minutes later, and that was when people started shouting and rang the alarm.
'We could barely get the life vests in time,' he said.
'It was chaotic. People were weeping... I also teared up.'
In heart-stopping footage, thick clouds of grey smoke could be seen billowing skywards as orange flames took over the bow of the ship.
Terrified passengers could be seen climbing up the rails to reach the highest point of the ferry as they attempted to dodge the heavy smoke and spreading fire.
Some were wearing life-jackets while others braved the fire in just their swimming gear while they watched out at sea for any signs of emergency rescue services.
Maitree, a Surat Thani resident who often travels to Koh Tao for work, said several boats came to their rescue around 20 minutes after they called for help, but the boats could not get too close to the ferry out of fear of explosions.
This resulted in people deciding to leap off into the water in the race against time to save themselves.
As police and coast guards arrived at the scene, they could be seen spraying the blackened ship with water as the smoke began to settle - revealing charred metal and a hollowed out interior.
Police and coast guards saved all 108 passengers - including travellers and crew
The fire reportedly broke out in the engine but an investigation into the cause is still ongoing
All of the passengers were safe but some suffered minor injuries from smoke inhalation
The emergency services saved the 97 tourists and 11 crew members onboard before the fire swallowed the ferry's bow.
Police Colonel Chokchai Sutthimek, superintendent of the Koh Tao Police Station, said: 'The vessel involved was the Ko Jaroen 2, a night ferry that also serves as a cargo boat. It was bound for Koh Tao and left the pier from Surat Thani at 11 pm last night.'
'At the time of the incident, there were 97 passengers, including Thai and foreign nationals, as well as 11 Burmese boat crew, along with cargo onboard.
'The fire originated in the engine room while the boat was mid-sea and approaching the pier at Koh Tao, causing panic among passengers, some of whom jumped overboard.
'After receiving the report from authorities and boat operators at Koh Tao, we swiftly dispatched a rescue boat to evacuate all passengers and crew back to the coast.
'Some of them suffered minor injuries from smoke inhalation.'
Other videos of the incident showed the ferry was also carrying several vehicles.
Koh Tao was dubbed Death Island following the murders of British backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller in 2014.
Previous cases of tourist deaths emerged and there have been several unexplained deaths of tourists since, leading to the island being branded 'cursed'.
Koh Tao - 'Death Island' in paradise
The sunny Koh Tao earned the notorious title of 'Death Island' around a decade ago after two Brits were brutally murdered while backpacking.
The semi-naked bodies of David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, were discovered between 5am and 6am on Sairee Beach in Koh Tao on September 15, 2014.
A British male, thought to have known the two, was named as a person of interested and hunted by police after allegedly fleeing the island on an early ferry for Bangkok.
Later, police released CCTV footage which they claimed showed the students walking hand-in-hand down a street.
It was later revealed the couple in the images were not Miss Witheridge and Mr Miller.
Images of a migrant worker spotted later on the same CCTV tape are circulated, with police describing the man as a person of interest.
The following day DNA samples taken from the scene do not match those of any of a reported 12 suspects.
Officers claimed they had 'strong evidence' to link six Burmese workers to the gruesome murders, though no forensic links could be made.
Samples were taken from nine migrant workers and three foreigners including two brothers from Jersey who were friends of David Miller.
Christopher and James Ware were stopped at Suvarnabhumi International airport on their way back to Britain for questioning.
The brothers were never arrested.
Thai police admitted they had 'no idea' who killed David Miller and Hannah Witheridge after failing to link any of 12 suspects to the crime.
They said it was 'difficult to say' whether the pair's killer or killers was still on the island, and then claimed investigations had pointed them to a group seen on the beach playing the guitar and singing 'western songs'.
The Thai Prime Minister said girls wearing bikinis on the holiday island of Koh Tao were not safe unless they were ugly.
'Can they be safe in bikinis ... unless they are not beautiful?' said General Prayuth Chan-O-Cha in a televised speech.
He later apologised for his remarks.
Police later say Miss Witheridge may not have been raped as first suggested following an autopsy on her body.
Police claimed DNA from two men alongside that of Miss Witheridge has been discovered on a cigarette butt 50 yards from where the 23-year-old's body was found.
They said traces of at least one man's DNA has been found on Miss Witheridge's body. Later it transpires there is evidence of one man's DNA on the cigarette, and of two men in the victim's body.
It was suggested David Miller was killed with a blunt piece of metal and not the rusty garden hoe first discovered at the scene and named as a murder weapon.
Evidence suggested the brave 24-year-old put up a fight before his death and that he was drowned.
The following month, two Burmese men, Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, both 21, were charged with three offences - conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to rape and robbery - in connection with the deaths of David Miller and Hannah Witheridge.
In December 2014, the suspects were each indicted on five charges: premeditated murder, killing to conceal a criminal offence, rape, illegal entry into Thailand, and staying in the country without permission.
Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, both now 29, were originally sentenced to death for the murder of David Miller and the murder and rape of Hannah Witheridge but a Thai royal decree changed their sentences to life in prison.
On April 2, 2024, both men demanded a review of the case as they plead their innocence.
They claim they were forced into making a confession and accused detectives of carrying out a 'botched' investigation, The Mirror reported.
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