A swift rescue effort from nearby fishing trawlers and pleasure craft saw all of those onboard except the Israeli child plucked safely from the sea. No injuries were initially reported.
The fire began in the engine room at the back of the 35-metre long and 4.5-metre wide ferry at 3.30pm when it was about eight kilometres off Noppharat Thara beach, Boonchao Tangsiripaisarn, director of Krabi’s Marine Office 5 told Jor Sor 100 traffic radio station.
About a dozen fishing trawlers, speed boats and rescue craft from police and marine authorities raced in at the first sign of trouble.