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Young child dies in fire on board tourist-packed Thailand ferry

No Irish citizens were thought to be on board.

A 12-YEAR-OLD Israeli girl who was reported missing after a blaze destroyed a ferry packed with tourists in southern Thailand has been found dead.

Divers discovered her body trapped inside the toilet of the vessel a day after more than 100 foreigners were plucked from the Andaman Sea in a dramatic rescue when the ferry travelling between the town of Krabi and Phuket island caught fire.

“Divers found her body at around 11am inside the toilet at the rear of the boat,” according to Lieutenant General Decha Butnampetch, southern region police commander.

He added she was the sole fatality from the accident and that her family has been informed.

Initially Krabi police had said everyone on board was safe but the Israeli girl was later listed as missing.

The search was called off due to strong currents and darkness after the sudden blaze Wednesday afternoon before resuming this morning.

Among the passengers pulled from the sea were nationals from Britain, Switzerland, the United States and China.

The Department of Foreign Affairs say they are not aware of any Irish tourists who were on board the ferry.

Accidents involving boats, buses and other forms of public transport are common in Thailand, where safety standards are generally poor.

Overcrowded tourist ferries and other boats are notorious for capsizing, catching fire or hitting rocks, especially during peak tourist season when vessels are pushed to their limit.

In November 2013 three tourists were among six dead when an overcrowded ferry sank off the coast of the popular resort of Pattaya.

© – AFP 2014 with reporting from Daragh Brophy

Read: Irish man found dead in Thailand >

Read: Trial begins of Burmese men accused of killing two British tourists >

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    Mute Mike
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    Dec 30th 2014, 3:39 PM

    In 2 weeks time she would have been 105. R.I.P.

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    Mute Alan mulvey
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    Dec 30th 2014, 4:35 PM

    Them old time movie stars there something classy about them

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    Mute Atticus the Accuser
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    Dec 30th 2014, 5:27 PM

    Yeah no icloud hacks of their toplessness!

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    Mute aido m
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    Dec 30th 2014, 4:36 PM

    Grand oul age to reach .gods speed

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    Mute Windom Earle
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    Dec 30th 2014, 4:03 PM

    This is far to much culture for some people here. It’s more football, drink and going to the gym.

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    Dec 30th 2014, 5:13 PM

    From a different time RIP

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    Mute LiquidPaddy
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    Dec 30th 2014, 8:40 PM

    So few of the grand dames of the Silver screen are left now, such as Miss Doris Day (90), or Miss Olivia de Havilland (96-97). While we do have some marvellous actors today, I’m afraid many of today’s stars just do not have the staying power or have so much talent. A wonderful life Miss Rainer, RIP.

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    Mute amos brearly
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    Dec 30th 2014, 5:08 PM

    104. No age at all. RIP.

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