UPDATE: Several of the tourists on board the boat did suffer injuries. Chalong Hospital confirmed that a Russian woman, 35, suffered burns while another Russian woman, 28, suffered from smoke inhalation.
A Kazakhstan couple, both 20, also suffered burns. Another Kazakhstan man, 35 suffered burns to both arms, while a Kazakhstan women, 33, suffered scratches to her right leg.
Phuket Marine Office Director Natchapong Pranit confirmed that the speedboat ‘Thanamarine 555’ caught fire 50 metres off the west side of Koh Maithon at about 9am.
All 33 passengers and the one tour guide and three crew members on board safely escaped to shore, he said.
The boat had departed from Chalong Pier for Koh Maithon. After arriving, some tourists went swimming. Later, the captain noticed an engine problem and arranged for a replacement boat.
While waiting for a replacement boat, a fire started and then an explosion occurred, The Phuket News was told.
At the time, only the captain, a mechanic and a crew member were on board. The captain and the mechanic were injured by burns and explosion shrapnel.
Initial reports said that three tourists and one guide were slightly injured by shrapnel and were rescued by a team dispatched by the Tourist Assistance Center at Chalong Pier.
The Phuket Marine Office is now inspecting the incident, Mr Natchapong said.