Disasters in Thailand

"It's hard … it's traumatic … as you can imagine when you find corpses, children, children in the arms of the mother in the # Wreck "Entremont, director of a diving shop in Phuket that helped coordinate underwater research

" But now, the best thing for us to do, our job is to find the bodies and bring them back to families ". Frenchman adds:

It is one of the worst maritime disasters in Thailand.

Fifteen people are still missing, but two days later, glimmers of hope for miraculous survivals are almost extinguished

the boat sinking by jumping into the sea or by raising life rafts, many were trapped in the main salon as the pleasure craft dropped 40 meters into the Andaman Sea

[TRÈS SAD]

dozens of rescuers – including volunteers and recreational divers – scoured the waters for two days in an area known for its reefs.

Most of the Thai dive experts were diverted north for a rescue operation in a flooded cave where 12 schoolchildren were trapped.

This left volunteers in Phuket who led the sinister task of trying to recover bodies from the sunken ship

Entremont said those who were coming down were specially trained to dive deep – the boat sank at about 47 meters.

South African Dominic Robnik, who was involved in the two-day search, described the scenes as "very, very sad".

"There was a lot of debris, shoes, glbad and even personal belongings." Robnik said the divers were positioned every five meters so that the bodies found were slowly rising to the surface, adding that he had helped to move at least six bodies

Body was particularly difficult to The divers said they were ready to bring specialized equipment

but earlier today, underwater research has been halted by the Thai navy which has taken control of the operation

According to Rear-Admiral Charoenphone Khumrasee, the bodies "would appear naturally"

That's the sad reality of boat disasters, says Entremont

"Maybe in a few days we'll find them on a beach somewhere drifting. "

Charoenpol Kumrasi, the vice-admiral of the Thai Navy, said more than 30 divers were involved in an operation on Sunday to topple the sunken phoenix to recover a body trapped underneath it." they will need more time and equipment to lift the wreckage, which is about 40 meters below the surface. "The search for the missing will also continue, he said, with divers and helicopters looking for areas around the site and the nearby sea.More than a dozen Chinese divers were taking part in the search.

French diver Laurent Couleau said that a pair of legs was seen hanging under the hull when he and other divers entered the wreckage on Saturday.He said it was traumatic to see bodies, including those of several young children, in the cabins of the boat, some wearing lifejackets

Couleau said that he had taken a dive group on the same course. He said that the weather was fine in the morning and that the storm suddenly arrived with a very strong wind and waves that shook his boat as he returned to the pier.

THAILAND PROMET OF JUSTICE

The Thai government is committed to ensuring justice for the Chinese victims. Tourism Minister Weerasak Kowsurat said the government would "spare no one" as he was seriously investigating the tragedy, one of the biggest disasters related to tourism in Thailand since a tsunami which killed thousands of people in 1969.

Until now, the identification of 33 of the 41 bodies found was confirmed.

Police investigated whether the two-story Phoenix Dive Boat was inspected by Navy officials prior to departure Thursday, Weerasak said. The Meteorology Department has issued warnings that small vessels will not be going out at sea that day, but larger vessels like the Phoenix could sail after inspection. The boat, with 105 people, including 93 tourists, capsized and sank after being hit by 5-meter waves.

Tourism is a vital part of the Thai economy, with the World Bank estimating the Southeast Asian nation at around 12%. percent of its gross domestic product from tourism receipts. Chinese tourists are a key driver of the industry, with 9.8 million of the 35.38 million tourists who visited the country last year.

& # 39; ACTED CARELESSLY & # 39;

Local Police Chief Sorasak Yenprem said testimony from 40 witnesses showed that the captains of the Phoenix and another boat that sank on Thursday had "acted carelessly". All the pbadengers of the second ship were rescued. The two ship captains were charged but denied the allegations, said Sorasak, adding that the investigations were ongoing.

"We will ensure that those responsible are brought to justice," Weerasak said. The government will strengthen safety regulations to prevent future accidents and intensify efforts to restore confidence in its tourism sector, he added.

The disaster did not seem to discourage visitors, with dozens of Western tourists and Chinese boats sunday for diving and cruising trips despite a warning issued by the meteorological department for the little ones ships not to go to sea.

Yi Mao Ling, a 63-year-old tourist from the Chinese city of Kunming, said that he was puzzled while he was heading for a boat with his children and grandchildren for a trip to the island.

"It makes me feel uncomfortable, but we can go in. I'm not worried," he told the Associated Press

. A Chinese survivor recounted his ordeal on Chinese TV CGTN. "The waves were really high and stormy, they were hitting the boat constantly, I was with my sister, my brother and two friends from school.All died.I feel terrible," Huang Jun said. Siong: "I only broke my hand. I climbed to the top of the boat but stuff was flying everywhere. A big piece of glbad hit me. Many Chinese people have offered their services at the hospital to help distraught parents.

"Even though we are doctors, in this situation, it gives us the impression that life is so fragile" Han Yi, a medical student from Wuhan City, China, volunteered at the hospital on Saturday.

She was in Bangkok with her two friends but said that they had abandoned their vacation plans and had flown to Phuket. She said that one of the most heartbreaking scenes at the hospital on Saturday was that of four Chinese students who survived the ordeal but their friend perished.

The five, originally from China's Guangdong Province, have just completed high school, she said.

"Two of the boys stood so tight and cried uncontrollably," said Fang. "We cried with them."