Fifty-two passengers were rescued after a fire ripped through a ferry in Malaysia yesterday (February 25).

Flames broke out in the boat's engine room sparking panic as smoke filled the vessel at Langkawi island, Malaysia.

More than 40 boats in the area helped to evacuate the trapped tourists.

Some passengers leapt into the sea before being fished out while others were helped onto rescue boats.

Two people were injured and taken to the hospital.

Captain Zulinda Ramly, the deputy director of Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Kedah and Perlis, said that the ferry departed from Kuah Ferry Terminal in the afternoon (2.30PM) before the incident happened.

She said: ''The ferry left at 2.30pm and about 15 minutes later a fire started. The boat was about two miles from the shore.

''It was believed that the fire erupted in the ferry’s engine room as passengers started to smell smoke coming from the back.''

The 52 passengers - including 22 men, 24 women, three boys, and three girls - were safely evacuated and returned to Kuala Perlis.

The injured men and woman were taken to the Sultanah Maliha hospital later in the evening.

After the rescue, the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) planned to do a forensic investigation on the incident to avoid a recurrence.

Assistant Fire Superintendent Mohd Shukri Ahmad Husaini, head of the Pesiaran Putra Fire and Rescue Department, said that all passengers and crews on the Dragon Star ferry were asked to cooperate with the investigation as well.