49 missing as the boat turns into the seas off Thailand: Governor

PHUKET, THAILAND: A boat carrying dozens of Chinese tourists overturned Thursday afternoon in rough seas off southern Thailand and 49 pbadengers were reported missing, said a local governor. Strong winds were still blowing as researchers searched for missing people from Phuket's tourist island, in the Andaman Sea.

Norraphat Plodthong Governor of Phuket said that 48 pbadengers were saved from the boat, with 49 without saying.

A police officer had already said that 90 people had been saved from the boat and only seven were missing. The reason for the difference was not clear.

A second boat was also knocked down at another location off Phuket on Thursday afternoon. But officials said the 39 Chinese and European tourists forced to abandon this boat were rescued and returned to the land.

The Thai media showed pictures of people saved from one of the boats in large rubber life rafts at sea, with fishing boats and boiling water at the airport. background. They also showed survivors being lifted rafts and sitting in their lifejackets in the middle of the ropes on the deck of what appears to be a fishing trawler.

Phuket officials had already issued a warning of bad weather until next Tuesday, including heavy rains and high winds.

"All agencies are cooperating in their research right now," Norraphat said. "We gave warnings … but the winds are strong."

He said the officials would consider whether to ban boats from going to the sea during strong winds.