A tourist boat caught fire as it was bringing 24 Thai tourists for a sight-seeing tour of the Chao Phraya river in Muang district of Ayutthaya province this afternoon. All the tourists were, however, safely evacuated to another passing tourist boat. 

No one was harmed in the incident, but the boat was completely damaged by the fire.

A tourist boat operator, Ms Natnicha Sorndee, said that the boat was about four years old and had insurance coverage for all the passengers.

It was reported that the tourists were having lunch on board the boat when fire started, emitting black smoke, causing panic among some of them.

Fortunately, another tourist boat passed by and all of them were evacuated on to it.

Local police and officials of the Marine Department are investigating the cause of the fire.