Lambeth tourist, 26, missing in Thailand after boat fire

A 26-year-old tourist has been reported missing after a fire ripped through a diving boat she was on while travelling in Thailand.

Alexandra Clarke, from Lambeth, is reported to be the only tourist missing after the incident on Sunday morning, off the coast of the island of Koh Tao.

In a Facebook post, the Surat Thani Provincial Public Relations Office said it believed 16 tourists were on the diving boat, called the Davy Jones Locker, when the blaze erupted from the ship’s engine room.

The post said: “After receiving the report of the fire, the Surat Thani Provincial Marine Office coordinated with private boats and volunteers to quickly help evacuate tourists and crew to another boat safely.

“One tourist is missing, a female named Alexandra Clarke, a British national. The authorities therefore organised a search team for the missing person.”

The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: “We are supporting the family of a British woman who is missing in Thailand and are in contact with local authorities.”

Pictured top: The diving boat caught fire after a blaze erupted from its engine room (Picture: Surat Thani Provincial Public Relations Office)