Thailand Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha consoles a relative of a victim in the last week's boat accident, Monday, July 9, 2018, on the tourist island of Phuket, Thailand. The death toll from Thursday's boat accident climbed to dozens, in Thailand's biggest tourist-related disaster in years. The boat, with 105 people, including 93 tourists, capsized and sank after it was hit by 5-meter (16-foot) waves. less

Thailand Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha consoles a relative of a victim in the last week's boat accident, Monday, July 9, 2018, on the tourist island of Phuket, Thailand. The death toll from Thursday's boat ... more

Thailand Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha consoles a relative of a victim in the last week's boat accident, Monday, July 9, 2018, on the tourist island of Phuket, Thailand. The death toll from Thursday's boat accident climbed to dozens, in Thailand's biggest tourist-related disaster in years. The boat, with 105 people, including 93 tourists, capsized and sank after it was hit by 5-meter (16-foot) waves. less

Thailand Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha consoles a relative of a victim in the last week's boat accident, Monday, July 9, 2018, on the tourist island of Phuket, Thailand. The death toll from Thursday's boat ... more

BANGKOK (AP) — Investigations into the sinking of two boats off Thailand's southern resort island of Phuket last week are progressing, police said Tuesday. The sinking of one boat left 45 Chinese tourists dead and two missing.

The double-decker tour boat Phoenix capsized and sank late Thursday afternoon after it was hit by 5-meter (16-foot) waves in one of Thailand's worst tourism-related disasters in recent years.

Everyone from the smaller second boat, the Serenata, was rescued.

Thai officials say both boats went to sea despite official warnings about the rough weather, and they have been pursuing legal action against those involved.

Police said the captain of the Phoenix had been charged with negligence causing death and the manager of the company operating the Serenata may be charged with negligence causing physical and mental damage to others. They said 50 people had been questioned in connection with the cases.

Officials said salvage operations could not be conducted Tuesday because of bad weather.

While the official death toll is 44, the actual toll is 45 because the body of one of three people listed as missing is trapped under the sunken Phoenix. The search and recovery operation will continue until all are accounted for, said Thai officials.

Dr. Chirapan Taypan of the Phuket Provincial Public Health office said Tuesday morning that 37 of the 44 recovered bodies had been identified.

China's tourism ministry has warned people to be careful during water-based activities abroad. The notice carried in Chinese media Monday said travelers should closely monitor weather and sea conditions and obey all warnings. Without mentioning Thailand, the notice said some cruise companies exercised lax management and maintained inadequate safety measures.

Tourism is a vital part of the Thai economy, with the World Bank estimating the Southeast Asian nation generates about 12 percent of its gross domestic product from tourism receipts. Chinese tourists are a key driver of the industry, accounting for 9.8 million of the record 35.38 million tourists to visit the country last year.

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the country's military ruler, expressed his "profound sadness" in a letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping. In the letter released by the foreign ministry Monday, Prayuth said a full investigation is underway to find the cause of the tragedy and assured Xi that his government is determined to ensure such incidents would not recur.

Tourism Minister Weerasak Kowsurat has said the government will "spare no one" and will bring all those responsible to justice. Families of each victim could receive up to 1.4 million Thai baht ($42,000) in compensation, officials said. </s> BANGKOK (AP) - Police say their investigations into the sinking of two boats off Thailand's southern resort island of Phuket last week are progressing. The sinking of one boat left 45 Chinese tourists dead and two still missing.

The double-decker tour boat Phoenix capsized and sank late Thursday afternoon after it was hit by 5-meter (16-foot) waves in one of Thailand's worst tourism-related disasters in recent years.

Everyone from the second boat that sank last week was rescued.

Thailand Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha consoles a relative of a victim in the last week's boat accident, Monday, July 9, 2018, on the tourist island of Phuket, Thailand. The death toll from Thursday's boat accident climbed to dozens, in Thailand's biggest tourist-related disaster in years. The boat, with 105 people, including 93 tourists, capsized and sank after it was hit by 5-meter (16-foot) waves. (AP Photo)

Thai officials say both boats went to sea despite official warnings about the rough weather, and they have been pursuing legal action against those involved.

Thailand Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha consoles a relative of a victim in the last week's boat accident, Monday, July 9, 2018, on the tourist island of Phuket, Thailand. The death toll from Thursday's boat accident climbed to dozens, in Thailand's biggest tourist-related disaster in years. The boat, with 105 people, including 93 tourists, capsized and sank after it was hit by 5-meter (16-foot) waves. (AP Photo) </s> Thai authorities say Phuket boat accident death toll climbs to 33, all Chinese nationals

PHUKET, Thailand (AP) — Thai authorities say Phuket boat accident death toll climbs to 33, all Chinese nationals. </s> BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai rescue workers pulled three more bodies from the Andaman Sea, officials said on Tuesday, as the grim task of identifying more than 40 dead gets underway following a boat accident off the coast of Phuket last week.

"Three more bodies were found. One found near Phi Phi island," Somnuek Prempramote, commander of Naval Area 3, told a news conference in the popular holiday island off Thailand's west coast.

The boat, the Phoenix, went down off Phuket in high seas on Thursday with 101 people on board, including 89 tourists, all but two of them from China, during an outing to a small island. Twelve Thai crew were also on board.

The death toll makes it the worst tourist-related disaster in Thailand in years and underscores long-standing concerns about the industry's safety.

Forty-four people have been confirmed dead and 54 were rescued, officials said on Tuesday.

Rescuers are still searching for three missing people.

Somnuek said rescue workers would continue to search for bodies if weather conditions allow.

"The wind is quite strong," said Somnuek, adding that plans to lift the sunken vessel were on hold.

"On moving the boat to see whether there are bodies underneath ... this task will need to be assessed to see if it affects evidence in this case. We will continue to consider this option," he said.

A Thai government minister blamed Chinese tour operators on Monday for the deaths for not respecting Thai safety legislation.

The Phoenix sailed during bad weather. Two other boats capsized in the same area on Thursday but their passengers were brought safely to shore.

So far, more than 50 Chinese families have arrived in Phuket to identify their loved ones and take care of survivors, media reported on Monday.

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha visited Phuket on Thursday and comforted some of the relatives.

The captain of the Phoenix has been charged with negligence causing death, police said. He has denied the charges. </s> Chinese

A rescued woman wearing a life jacket hugs a man after a boat capsized off the tourist island of Phuket. Reuters

BANGKOK – Thai rescue workers pulled three more bodies from the Andaman Sea, officials said on Tuesday (July 10), as the grim task of identifying more than 40 dead gets underway following a boat accident off the coast of Phuket last week.

“Three more bodies were found. One found near Phi Phi island,” Somnuek Prempramote, commander of Naval Area 3, told a news conference in the popular holiday island off Thailand’s west coast.

The boat, the Phoenix, went down off Phuket in high seas on Thursday with 101 people on board, including 89 tourists, all but two of them from China, during an outing to a small island. Twelve Thai crew were also on board.

The death toll makes it the worst tourist-related disaster in Thailand in years and underscores long-standing concerns about the industry’s safety.

Forty-four people have been confirmed dead and 54 were rescued, officials said on Tuesday.

Rescuers are still searching for three missing people.

Somnuek said rescue workers would continue to search for bodies if weather conditions allow.

“The wind is quite strong,” said Somnuek, adding that plans to lift the sunken vessel were on hold.

“On moving the boat to see whether there are bodies underneath … this task will need to be assessed to see if it affects evidence in this case. We will continue to consider this option,” he said.

A Thai government minister blamed Chinese tour operators on Monday for the deaths for not respecting Thai safety legislation. </s> PHUKET: The death toll from a boat accident near the Thai holiday island of Phuket has risen to 28, officials said Friday (Jul 6), as divers reported seeing multiple bodies inside the sunken hull of the Phoenix tourist vessel.

The dead were found drifting face down in the water, still wearing life jackets, several kilometres from where the Phoenix sank after being hit by five-metre high waves in a storm on Thursday evening.

"Twenty-six bodies have been found and brought to here (Chalong pier). At least two (more) bodies will be transferred to this port soon," Archayon Kraithong, deputy commissioner of Thailand's Tourist police, told AFP.

"The mission will go on," he added.

Earlier, Rear Admiral Charoenphon Khumrasee of the Thai navy said divers had seen "over 10 bodies" inside the submerged boat.

The Phoenix was carrying 105 passengers, the majority of whom were Chinese tourists, when it hit trouble, sparking a rescue attempt that took place in the dark.

Forty-eight people - passengers and crew - were rescued before the operation was suspended late Thursday.

"The skies were clear when we went out, we had no idea the weather could change so fast," said Wu Jun, 28, from the hospital bedside of his wife Long Hai Ning.

The pair, who were on their honeymoon, were on different decks as the boat started to list, but both managed to escape.

"I grabbed onto a railing and pulled myself overboard," he told AFP, adding he feared women and children were among those who were trapped on the bottom deck as the boat went down.

A total of 56 passengers were reported missing as of Friday morning before the recovery effort began, with the Phoenix looking set to be one of the worst boat disasters in recent Thai history.



Thailand 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.

Stunned survivors of the boat accident huddled in blankets on a Phuket pier late Thursday.

The Phoenix was among several boats that appeared to have ignored a severe weather warning in place since Wednesday to take tourists on day-trips to the islands that dot the seas off Phuket.

A Chinese consular official arrived at the operations centre in Phuket to monitor the rescue effort.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said a taskforce was on its way to Thailand.

"We hope that the Thai side can continue their best efforts and ... do their best to treat the injured, comfort relatives and deal with other follow up measures," he said.

Phuket is a magnet for overseas visitors including Western sun-seekers and huge numbers of Chinese tourists who make up the bulk of the 35 million people expected to visit the kingdom this year.

Last year 9.8 million Chinese tourists visited Thailand, with five million more arriving between January and May this year.



Thailand has a poor health and safety record and accidents are common on its roads and busy waterways - especially in tourist areas during the monsoon season which is now biting. </s> BANGKOK (Reuters) - Rescue workers pulled three more bodies from the Andaman Sea on Tuesday as authorities and relatives began identifying more than 40 dead from a boat accident near Thailand’s holiday island of Phuket last week.

The Phoenix tourist boat went down in rough seas on Thursday with 101 people on board, including 89 tourists, all but two of them from China, during an outing to a small island. Twelve Thai crew were also on board.

“Three more bodies were found. One found near Phi Phi island,” Somnuek Prempramote, commander of Naval Area 3, told reporters on Phuket, a popular holiday destination off Thailand’s west coast.

Forty-four people have been confirmed dead, officials said on Tuesday, making it Thailand’s worst tourist-related disaster in years and underscoring safety concerns about the industry.

There were 54 survivors and the search for three missing people would continue if the weather allowed, Somnuek said.

“The wind is quite strong,” said Somnuek, adding that plans to lift the sunken vessel were on hold.

“On moving the boat to see whether there are bodies underneath ... this task will need to be assessed to see if it affects evidence in this case. We will continue to consider this option,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan apologized for comments he made on Monday blaming Chinese tour operators for the deaths because they did not respect Thai safety rules.

Prawit “sends his condolences and apologizes to the Chinese people,” defense ministry spokesman Kongcheep Tantravanich told reporters.

Two other boats capsized in the same area on Thursday but their passengers were brought safely to shore.

The captain of the Phoenix has been charged with negligence causing death, police said. He has denied the charges.

More than 50 Chinese families have arrived in Phuket to identify the bodies of relatives and take care of survivors, Thai media reported on Monday.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha visited Phuket on Thursday and comforted some of the relatives. </s> Thailand has suspended efforts to salvage a boat that capsized and sank off its resort island of Phuket, with officials putting the death toll in its worst tourist-related disaster in years at 46.

The Phoenix had 101 on board, including 89 tourists, all but two of them from China, when it went down in rough seas last Thursday during an outing to a small island.

Forty-two passengers and the crew of a dozen Thais were rescued.

The salvage operation was suspended because the boat lay deep and currents were rough, Phuket police commander Teerapol Tipcharoen told reporters.

Divers would retrieve a final body from the shipwreck when weather conditions permit, said Rear Admiral Chareonpol Kumrasee, who helped lead the effort.

The monsoon season now under way can bring fierce squalls and high seas in southern Thailand, especially off its west coast, and questions have been raised about why the boat had set out to sea despite bad weather.

The captain has been charged with negligence causing death but has denied the charges.

Religious rites for the dead were held throughout the week after families arrived in Phuket from China to identify relatives and take charge of survivors. </s> BANGKOK (REUTERS) - Thailand suspended efforts on Thursday (July 12) to salvage a boat that capsized and sank off its resort island of Phuket, officials said, putting the death toll in its worst tourist-related disaster in years at 46.

The Phoenix had 101 on board, including 89 tourists, all but two of them from China, when it went down in rough seas last Thursday during an outing to a small island. Forty-two passengers and the crew of a dozen Thais were rescued.

The salvage operation was suspended because the boat lay deep and currents were rough, Phuket police commander Teerapol Tipcharoen told reporters.

Divers would retrieve a final body from the shipwreck when weather conditions permit, said Rear Admiral Chareonpol Kumrasee, who helped lead the effort.

The monsoon season now under way can bring fierce squalls and high seas in southern Thailand, especially off its west coast, and questions have been raised about why the boat had set out to sea despite warnings of bad weather.

The captain of the Phoenix has been charged with negligence causing death, police said. He has denied the charges.

Religious rites for the dead were held throughout the week after families arrived in Phuket from China to identify relatives and take charge of survivors.

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The accident has led to a drop off in hotel bookings.

"We found that 10 to 15 per cent of advance hotel bookings in Phuket were canceled," said Thai tourism official Pongpanu Svetarundra.

Thailand's tourism sector, which accounts for 12 per cent of southeast Asia's second largest economy, has proved resilient to accidents, political turmoil and even bomb attacks over the past decade.

Chinese tourists made up nearly a third of last year's record arrivals of 35 million and more are expected this year, the tourism ministry says.

Two other boats capsized in the same vicinity as the Phoenix last week but their passengers were brought safely to shore.
The death toll from a tourist boat accident off the coast of Thailand's Phuket Island climbs to 46.