Phuket: Diving Boat Sinks, 27 Dead, Dozens Feared Missing in Water Off Thailand
The boat was carrying 105 people, including 93 tourists, 11 crew and one tour guide.
Bangkok, July 6: A boat carrying over 100 tourists capsized and sank in rough water off Thailand's Phuket after violent storm struck on Thursday. At least 27 died as the Phoenix PC diving boat sank off the coast of Phuket island. Rescue efforts continued on Friday to locate 29 missing persons.
The boat was carrying 105 people, including 93 tourists, 11 crew and one tour guide when a storm whipped up waves as high as five meters (16 feet) toppled it, reported the Independent. According to the Phuket Marine Police, the boat was registered and was not overloaded when the accident happened.
It went down about 7-kms (5 miles) from the shore and had sunk to a depth of about 38-40 metres (yards), the Royal Thai Marine Corps said in a statement earlier. The boat was returning to Phuket from Koh Racha at around 4:00 pm (local time) when a storm hit.
The governor of southern Phuket, Noraphat Plodthong, said 49 people — over half of the passengers — were still “being helped” as rescue boats rushed to the scene. A second provincial official, requesting anonymity, told AFP rescuers “are working to find” the 49 missing.
Phuket is a magnet for overseas visitors including Western sun-seekers and Chinese tourists who will make up the bulk of the 35 million people expected to visit the kingdom this year. Governor Noraphat said Phuket officials had issued a weather warning on Wednesday alerting the public about impending storms.
Thailand has a sketchy health and safety record and accidents are common on its roads and busy waterways – especially during the monsoon season which is now biting. The kingdom 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. (With PTI inputs)
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 06, 2018 04:26 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).