Dozens of Russian tourists were rescued from a burning boat just days after a similar ship fire is believed to have killed a British backpacker in Thailand.

The 35 passengers were evacuated from the pleasure boat after smoke filled its engine room off the coast of 'Sin City' Pattaya.

Emergency crews arrived at the scene 500 metres off Sak Island after receiving a distress call from the boat captain. They found thick black plumes billowing near the underside of the vessel named Pattaya Bay Cruise.

The tourists were safely taken back to shore with no injuries reported, as firefighters doused the fire on March 18.

Marine rescue officials found the smoke was caused by a mechanical malfunction. They said a detached joint in the exhaust system had caused smoke to belch out.

The boat captain said: 'I was taking the tourists to Koh Sak island, and decided to send a distress signal when smoke started drifting out of the engine room. The engine malfunction had triggered the exhaust system failure, releasing a large amount of smoke.'

The rescue came after missing British tourist Alexandra Clarke, 26, is believed to have been killed in a similar boat fire on March 16. She has not been found and divers are yet to recover a body.

The backpacker from Lambeth, South London, was reportedly using the toilet when a blaze erupted from an air compressor on the wooden vessel five miles from 'Death Island' Koh Tao on Sunday morning.

Officials said at least 16 tourists were onboard the boat, named Davy Jones Locker, as well as two crew and four instructors from the scuba diving firm based on the island.

They were all rescued by passing boats before the vessel sank, with Alexandra feared to have been trapped in the toilet next to the flames and explosions.

Police said on Tuesday that Alexandra remained missing, with boats, specialist divers and a helicopter now scouring the area where the ship sank.