Search ongoing for 14 missing
China offers help in the rescue effort
China has urged Thailand to make an all-out effort to find the 14 people who remained unaccounted for after a tourist boat they were travelling in sank in rough seas off of Phuket on Thursday.
Named the Phoenix, the boat was carrying 105 people, mostly Chinese, when it encountered a freak storm, which whipped up waves as high as five metres, causing the vessel to capsize about 13kms from Ao Chalong pier in Muang district.
As of yesterday, the death toll had reached 42 as another body was found stuck under the ill-fated boat.
“There are still Chinese nationals missing. Continued efforts will be made to locate them,” said Chinese Ambassador to Thailand, Lyu Jian.
“I want to appeal to the Thai and Chinese agencies to make a 100% effort to find all of them.”
“Chinese boat experts have already been sent to assist Thai authorities investigating the cause of the tragedy,” Mr Lyu said.
Both Thai and Chinese leaders have given orders for both sides to work closely together.
“I want to emphasise that search must be undertaken as quickly as possible,” Mr Lyu said, adding Thai authorities need to ensure that tourism in the country is made as safe as possible.
Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism and Sports, Weerasak Kowsurat, said that Phuket airport, Vachira Phuket Hospital and provincial City Hall will be used as coordination centres for relatives of the victims.
Local contact phone numbers are 076685394 and 076-685395.
Legal action must be taken swiftly to ensure that similar incidents do not happen again, he said.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Busadee Santipitaks, said the Royal Thai Embassy in Beijing is ready to provide help to families and relatives of the victims and can be contacted via the number +8618311452813.
Thursday’s rough seas also caused another tourist boat, named Serenita, to capsize, though all of its 39 passengers and two crew were safely rescued.
Pol Lt Gen Sorasak Yenprem, commander of Provincial Police Region 8, said the Phoenix’s captain Somjing Boontham has been charged with reckless conduct leading to death and injury while the Serenita’s captain, Metha Limsakul, is facing charges of reckless conduct causing physical and mental harm to others.
The pair denied the charges. Police have gathered accounts of more than 40 witnesses in their probe to date.
Speaking at a briefing about the rescue efforts, Vadm Somnuk Prempramote, commander of the Royal Thai Navy Region 3, said officers will be instructed look for the missing on beaches and islands in their jurisdictions.
The search will expand to Koh Yao and Phi Phi island and divers have been instructed to check through the submerged Phoenix again to ensure there are no bodies left.