Blaze Photo Album Above
A FUEL fire at Phuket's ferry port has destroyed a dive boat and put seven people in hospital, with one person in a serious condition.
The fire caused an estimated 10 million baht damage to the Ladawan 2, a double-storey live-aboard, moored at Phuket City's Rassada Pier.
Phuketwan was told that the boat was being readied for regular trips to the Similan islands, a popular diving spot and national marine park that reopens for visitors on November 1.
Firemen fought to bring the huge blaze under control. As Phuketwan looked on, flames burst up again from the smouldering shell of the vessel.
The boat belonged to West Coast Divers. Colonel Wanchai Eakporntip of Phuket City Police Station immediately took charge of the investigation.
Police inquiries are continuing. It is believed the fuel caught fire when maintenance staff were working on the engine.
A welder was understood to be working about 10am while another person was carrying fuel on board.
The man who was carrying the fuel is in Vachira Hospital, in a serious but stable condition, suffering burns. He is understood to be mute.
A second man has also been admitted with burns. Five others were treated and discharged.
West Coast is expected to be looking for other dive boats to carry divers who have booked with them on trips. Other boats were moored nearby but not damaged.
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That was quick reporting, we just heard about this ourselves 5 minutes ago from a contact at the shipyard. Does not sound good. Our dive company books a lot of people on this boat every year. I hope everyone is OK, sounds like a nasty fire.
Posted by Sunrise on October 13, 2010 12:34