Tourists leap into the sea for their lives after boat catches fire near ‘Death Island’

Terrified tourists were forced to jump overboard after their boat caught on fire in the middle of the sea in Thailand.

Tourists leaped into the water off the coast of Thailand near the island of Koh Tao – also known as ‘Death Island’.

Shocking video captured the moment holidaymakers escaped the flames this morning.

Backpackers were crammed onto The Ko Jaroen 2 ferry after a blaze erupted in its engine room just a few meters away at about 6.30am local time.

The vessel had 97 passengers on board alongside 11 crew members, a local rescue agency Chumphon Charity Foundation said in a statement.

No deaths or serious injuries were reported after the incident which happened as the boat was about one nautical mile away from Koh Tao.

Four people were given first aid at the hospital.

The ferry had departed Surat Thani city on the mainland around 74 miles away at 9.30pm.

Eyewitnesses took to social media after the scary incident, saying that other vessels helped stranded tourists.

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