PHUKET, Thailand, July 6, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – The search for dozens of
missing Chinese tourists whose boat capsized off the Thai holiday island of
Phuket resumed early Friday, with divers poised to scour the sunken hull, the
local governor told reporters.
The Phoenix ran into trouble on Thursday afternoon, when it was hammered by
five-metre (15-feet) high waves that had been whipped up by a storm.
The boat, which had left the popular snorkelling spot of Koh Racha to
return to Phuket, was carrying 105 passengers, the majority Chinese tourists.
The body of one of the passengers, believed to be a Chinese holidaymaker,
was pulled from the sea late Thursday and brought to shore, shortly before
the search was called off for the night.
Helicopters, police and fishing boats were deployed early Friday as the
rescue mission restarted.
“We will conduct air searches and send divers to check inside the sunken
Phoenix boat,” Noraphat Plothong said.
“Police investigators said most of the tourists were wearing life jackets,”
when the boat went down, he added.
Thailand is already in the global spotlight for a dramatic rescue mission
in the north of the country, after 12 boys and their football coach were
trapped in a cave complex.
Stunned survivors of the boat accident huddled in blankets on a Phuket pier
late Thursday.
Some cried while others appeared dazed as they walked around still wearing
their life vests.
“Eleven are injured, of these two are in serious condition,” the governor
added.
The Phoenix was among several boats that appeared to have ignored a severe
weather warning in place since Wednesday to take tourists on day-trips to the
islands that dot the seas off Phuket.
A Chinese consular official arrived at the operations centre in Phuket to
monitor the rescue effort.
Several other vessels hit trouble late Thursday. Initial reports from
officials said all of the passengers on those boats were rescued.
But as details dripped through overnight, governor Noraphat said two
passengers were still unaccounted for from another stricken ship.
Phuket is a magnet for overseas visitors including Western sun-seekers and
huge numbers of Chinese tourists who make up the bulk of the 35 million
people expected to visit the kingdom this year.
Thailand has a poor health and safety record and accidents are common on
its roads and busy waterways — especially in tourist areas during the
monsoon season which is now biting.