Dramatic second scuba divers swim for his or her lives from inferno on Thai vacationer boat  – as hunt continues for Brit who was ‘utilizing bathroom onboard when inferno broke out’

This is the dramatic moment a fire ripped through a diving boat off the coast of Thailand which led to a British holidaymaker going missing.

Scuba divers can be seen frantically swimming for their lives away from the boat as it becomes engulfed in flames while an explosion causes parts of it to fly into the air.

The shocking footage was shot from an accompanying diving boat with those on it screaming at the scuba divers in the water to swim as fast as they could.

The inferno can be seen ravaging the boat called Davy Jones Locker, at its rear. It was carrying 16 tourists on a scuba diving trip.

Backpacker Alexandra Clarke, 26, from Lambeth, was reportedly using the toilet when the blaze erupted from the engine of the wooden vessel near Koh Tao on Sunday morning.

The search for her continues with specialist divers from the Thai navy facing hazardous conditions in a race against time to find her.

Video showed scuba divers swimming away from the inferno on Sunday

Backpacker Alexandra Clarke (pictured, right) was reportedly using the toilet when a blaze erupted from the engine of the wooden vessel near Koh Tao

Those on board are understood to have been rescued by passing tourist boats, but Ms Clarke was still unaccounted for on Sunday afternoon

A tourist on the diving boat which helped to rescue divers from the Davy Jones Locker told MailOnline: ‘Both boats set off at the same time and were packed with tourists for a scuba diving trip.

‘We came to a stop and then there was this huge explosion. It’s lucky we were there because we were able to help the scuba divers who had to jump into the water to save their lives.’

Police on the island have arrested the captain, who they named only as Tawee, 66 and a crew member, named only as Tae, 48 on charges of negligence.

Since the fire, the boat has sunk, and Thai officials are now trying to bring it to the surface.

A police source said: ‘Our efforts are continuing but the weather has made the search operation very difficult. There are high winds and the current is very strong. We are doing our best to find the British tourist.’

Colonel Sarayuth Burivashira of Thai Police said: ‘From our preliminary investigations the fire was caused by negligence and both the captain, and the crew member have been detained’

The inferno can be seen ravaging the boat called Davy Jones Locker, at its rear. It was carrying 16 tourists on a scuba diving trip 

A British woman is still missing after the incident on Sunday

Divers from the Koh Tao Rescue Team, a local organisation that co-ordinates sea rescues are assisting the Thai navy.

Police revealed that crew member Tae was filling scuba oxygen tanks with compressed air close to the boat’s engine room when one of them exploded causing the inferno.

Colonel Sarayuth Burivashira of Thai Police said: ‘From our preliminary investigations the fire was caused by negligence and both the captain, and the crew member have been detained. The oxygen tanks should have been kept as far away as possible from the engine room.

‘Our investigations are continuing, and both the arrested men will be questioned in greater detail over the coming days.’

The compressed air in the tanks filled to 3,000psi as well as fuel onboard are understood to have caused the fire to have spread. The toilet is often located at the back of the boat on the bottom deck.

Captain Natthaphon Sinpoonphon, Deputy Director of the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Center of Surat Thani, said the blaze started at around 9 am local time. An emergency call was received shortly after.

Footage shows how the inferno ravaged the large wooden cabin at the rear of the boat as shocked holidaymakers on passing boats looked on

Officials said at least 16 tourists, as well as two crew and four instructors from the scuba diving firm, were onboard the boat

He said: ‘The boat was carrying a group of tourists for a diving excursion from Koh Tao. It was between five and six nautical miles away from the island.

‘A fire started in the engine room and spread through the boat rapidly.

‘Thai-MECC Surat Thani coordinated with private vessels and volunteers to safely evacuate the tourists and crew members onto another boat.

‘Meanwhile, another team of volunteers worked to control the fire. Preliminary reports indicate that the engine room, captain’s cabin, and rear restroom were damaged. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.’

An FCDO spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘We are supporting the family of British woman reported missing in Thailand and are in contact with local authorities.’