THE ferry Tanakorn, with three vehicles on board, sank off Phuket this afternoon after a spectacular blaze on board reduced it to a floating black plank.


PHUKET: A large ferry boat was on fire in waters near Naka island off Phuket this afternoon.

The blaze was seen about 4pm. Marine Police were on their way to the blazing vessel.

Four crew had been taken off by passing speedboats.

Marine Police were told by the captain of the 23.5 metre Tanakorn, Sompong Maikeaw, that three cars were on board the ferry at the time.

The vessel makes regular runs between Phuket and Yao Yai. It was on its way to the Paklok Pier on Phuket when the fire interrupted the journey.

The fire was the latest in a series of incidents involving vessels in the Phuket Krabi region.