Twenty people on a passenger boat were rescued this afternoon after the vessel caught fire, possibly caused by an engine fault. The boat was in rough seas about 5 km from the coast of Muang district of Chumphon province.

All the passengers and crew were, however, rescued, with 3 sustaining serious injuries, 3 more with moderate injuries and the rest with only minor scrapes. No death has been reported.

Deputy Director-General of the Marine Department, Phuripat Theerakulpisut said that the vessel, left the Lomprayah pier at about 2pm with 18 passengers and two crew members on board. The vessel can carry 30.

While the boat was navigating past Thong Lang Island, or about 20 minutes in, the fire started.

Phuripat said that all the souls on board had been taken care of and he has ordered an investigation into the cause of the fire.