[ad_1]
By PTI
PHUKET: Thai rescuers fired 37 bodies of waters off the coast of Phuket Island today after a tourist boat descended at sea with dozens of Chinese pbadengers on board.
Many dead were found drifting, face down in the water, still wearing lifejackets, several kilometers from where the Phoenix sank after being hit by waves of five meters in a storm last night. [19659003"Lenombredemortsestaujourd'huide37dont18sonttoujoursportésdisparus"adéclaréunofficieldelamarinethaïlandaiseaujourd'huisouscouvertd'anonymity[19659004]. According to a Rear Admiral of the Thai Navy, Charoenphon Khumrasee, who said that they would try to recover them later today.
A survivor, a Chinese woman, was rushed to Phuket Hospital, according to an AFP journalist at the scene. she was found several kilometers from the boat, having spent the night in the water.
His condition was unknown
The three-story boat carried 105 pbadengers, most Chinese tourists when it sank.
"The sky was clear when we went out," said Wu Jun, 28, at the bedside of his wife Long Hai Ning's hospital.
The two men, who were on their honeymoon, were on different decks by the time the boat started. "I grabbed a railing and pulled myself overboard," he told AFP, adding that He was worried that women and children would get stuck on the lower deck.
A total of 56 pbadengers were reported missing on Friday morning before recovery operations began, with the Phoenix appearing to be in danger. one of the worst nautical disasters in the recent history of Thailand.
The boat sank 40 meters below the surface of the Andaman Sea, a few kilometers from the coast of Koh He, an islet known for its coral formations were popular with the day-trippers of Phuket's tourist attraction
A stream of body bags was brought to the shore of Phuket's Chalong Pier and taken to a nearby hospital for identification.
"I'm not sure how many survivors," Phuket governor Noraphat Plodthong told reporters.
Some 48 people – pbadengers and crew members – were rescued from the Phoenix Thursday before the operation was suspended overnight.
Pratt Wongsuwon, number two of the Thai junta, ordered an investigation into why "the boat sailed". Police said they would try to accuse the captain and the owner of negligence.
The Phoenix was part of several boats that appeared to have ignored a warning in place since Wednesday not to take tourists on day trips to the islands. Several ships encountered problems last night, but all their pbadengers were saved.
Thailand is already in the spotlight of a dramatic rescue mission in the north of the country, after 12 boys. and their football coach were trapped in a cave complex.
A Chinese consular official arrived at the operations center in Phuket to oversee the rescue effort.
Lu Kang, spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"We hope that the Thai side can continue its efforts and do its best to treat the wounded, comfort their loved ones and face other follow-up measures," he said.
Phuket attracts hordes of visitors Chinese tourists and a large number of Chinese tourists make up nearly a third of the 35 million people who should visit Thailand this year.
Last year, 9.8 million Chinese tourists visited Thailand, five million between January and May of this year.
Thailand has a poor health and safety record and accidents are common on its roads and waterways, especially in tourist areas during the monsoon season
Source link
