The captain of a diving boat from which a British tourist went missing following an explosion has been arrested as the search for her continues.
Backpacker Alexandra Clarke, 26, from Lambeth, was reportedly using the toilet when a blaze erupted from the engine of the wooden vessel near Koh Tao on Sunday morning.
Police on the island told MailOnline that the captain, who they named only as Tawee, 66 and a crew member, named only as Tae, 48 have been detained on charges of negligence.
Officials said at least 16 tourists, as well as two crew and four instructors from the scuba diving firm, were onboard the boat, named Davy Jones Locker. Local sources claim that it has now sunk after flames damaged most of it.
Those on board are understood to have been rescued by passing tourist boats, but Ms Clarke was still unaccounted for on Sunday afternoon.
Around a dozen divers are involved in the search for her in conditions that have been described as dangerous because of strong wind and currents.
The specialist divers are from the Thai navy and the Koh Tao Rescue Team, a local organisation that co-ordinates sea rescues.
Police revealed that crew member Tae was filling scuba oxygen tanks with compressed air close to the boat’s engine room when one of them exploded causing the inferno.
Backpacker Alexandra Clarke (pictured, right) was reportedly using the toilet when a blaze erupted from the engine of the wooden vessel near Koh Tao
Officials said at least 16 tourists, as well as two crew and four instructors from the scuba diving firm, were onboard the boat
Colonel Sarayuth Burivashira of Thai Police said: ‘From our preliminary investigations the fire was caused by negligence and both the captain, and the crew member have been detained.
‘The oxygen tanks should have been kept as far away as possible from the engine room.
‘Our investigations are continuing, and both the arrested men will be questioned in greater detail over the coming days.’
The compressed air in the tanks filled to 3,000psi as well as fuel onboard are understood to have caused the fire to have spread. The toilet is often located at the back of the boat on the bottom deck.
Footage shows how the inferno ravaged the large wooden cabin at the rear of the boat as shocked holidaymakers on passing boats looked on.
Captain Natthaphon Sinpoonphon, Deputy Director of the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Center of Surat Thani, said the blaze started at around 9 am local time. An emergency call was received shortly after.
He said: ‘The boat was carrying a group of tourists for a diving excursion from Koh Tao. It was between five and six nautical miles away from the island.
‘A fire started in the engine room and spread through the boat rapidly.
Colonel Sarayuth Burivashira of Thai Police said: ‘From our preliminary investigations the fire was caused by negligence and both the captain, and the crew member have been detained’
Footage shows how the inferno ravaged the large wooden cabin at the rear of the boat as shocked holidaymakers on passing boats looked on
Captain Natthaphon Sinpoonphon, Deputy Director of the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Center of Surat Thani, said the blaze started at around 9 am local time
Those on board are understood to have been rescued by passing tourist boats, but Ms Clarke was still unaccounted for on Sunday afternoon
‘Thai-MECC Surat Thani coordinated with private vessels and volunteers to safely evacuate the tourists and crew members onto another boat.
‘Meanwhile, another team of volunteers worked to control the fire. Preliminary reports indicate that the engine room, captain’s cabin, and rear restroom were damaged. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.’
An FCDO spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘We are supporting the family of British woman reported missing in Thailand and are in contact with local authorities.’
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