A British tourist, Alexandra Clarke, is missing after the tour boat she was on caught fire off the island of Koh Tao, Thailand. Clarke, 26, from Lambeth, London, was aboard the Davy Jones Locker for a diving excursion when the blaze broke out early on the morning of March 10, 2025.
The fire reportedly began just before 9:25 a.m. local time, while Clarke was in the bathroom, and quickly spread across the boat. The fire started in the engine room, and despite efforts from crew and volunteers, the flames engulfed the vessel. Authorities revealed that the boat was around five to six nautical miles from Koh Tao when the disaster struck.
Among the 21 people on board — which included 15 tourists, two crew members, and four diving instructors and assistants — all were successfully evacuated by private boats and volunteers. However, Clarke was not among those rescued. Thai authorities later confirmed that Clarke was missing following the evacuation.
Capt Natthaphon Sinpoonphon, deputy director of the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre, reported that the fire spread rapidly, damaging the engine room, captain’s cabin, and rear restroom of the vessel. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Rescue operations faced challenges, including dangerous conditions at sea, with strong winds and currents complicating the efforts. In addition, fears of further explosions due to fuel on board delayed rescue teams’ attempts to approach the boat.
A spokesperson for Thailand’s Foreign Office confirmed the missing tourist’s identity and stated that the British government is in contact with local authorities and providing support to the family. Clarke’s family has been informed of the situation, and the British authorities are actively assisting in the search operation.
A video circulating on social media showed the boat fully engulfed in flames, providing a haunting image of the disaster. The Davy Jones Locker had been transporting tourists from Koh Tao, a popular island destination, to a nearby diving site, the South-west Pinnacle, when the fire erupted.
As search and rescue teams continue to comb the area, the conditions at sea remain perilous, and all boats in the region have been alerted.
