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Boats capsize in Thailand leaving dozens missing Thailand boat sinking: At least 21 confirmed dead
(about 17 hours later)
At least one person has died and dozens are missing after two passenger boats capsized off the coast of the island of Phuket in Thailand, officials say. More than 20 people have died and dozens more are still missing after a passenger boat capsized off the holiday island of Phuket in Thailand.
Some 48 passengers were rescued by a fishing trawler when one of the vessels, carrying 97 people, overturned in strong winds and rough seas. The Phoenix - which had 105 people on board, mainly Chinese tourists - went down in stormy weather late on Thursday afternoon.
Another 39 people were saved when a second passenger boat overturned. Search and rescue operations, suspended overnight, resumed on Friday morning.
Search and rescue efforts by the Thai Navy were hampered by conditions and have been suspended until Friday. However, there are conflicting reports of how many bodies have been pulled from the water.
"There are 53 people missing," the governor of southern Phuket, Noraphat Plodthong, told reporters on Thursday, adding: "We have stopped the rescue, we'll start again in the morning." News agency AFP, quoting Phuket provincial rescue centre, said 21 bodies had been found so far, while Reuters news agency reports the Royal Thai Navy putting the current death toll at 27.
The incidents occurred at about 17:45 local time (11:45 GMT) on Thursday. Divers are continuing to search the sunken hull of the Phoenix.
According to Thai authorities the larger vessel, a diving boat named the Phoenix, was carrying Chinese tourists, many of whom are still missing. A total of 48 passengers were rescued by a fishing trawler on Thursday, while another survivor was pulled from the water several miles from the boat, along with several bodies, according to AFP.
The body of a man wearing a life jacket with the Phoenix company logo was pulled from the sea late on Thursday. She was rushed to hospital, but her condition is unknown.
The second boat was carrying mostly European passengers, all of whom were picked up and are accounted for. Another 39 people were saved when a second boat, carrying mostly European passengers, overturned at about the same time.
An investigation has been ordered into why the boats went out, despite severe weather warnings.
Footage and images captured in Phuket showed tourists huddling in blankets, while others looked distressed as medics tended to the injured.Footage and images captured in Phuket showed tourists huddling in blankets, while others looked distressed as medics tended to the injured.
Mr Noraphat earlier said that a further 10 smaller boats were also stranded at sea. Phuket governor Noraphat Plodthong said that a further 10 smaller boats were also stranded at sea on Thursday.
"There were high winds this evening," he said, adding that a weather warning had been issued because of "strong winds and storms" on Wednesday."There were high winds this evening," he said, adding that a weather warning had been issued because of "strong winds and storms" on Wednesday.
In a separate incident, two Russian tourists on a jet ski near the island of Koh Racha had to be rescued after they were caught by the severe weather conditions.In a separate incident, two Russian tourists on a jet ski near the island of Koh Racha had to be rescued after they were caught by the severe weather conditions.
Thailand is bracing for the arrival of the monsoon season, which will bring heavy rain and storms to the area.Thailand is bracing for the arrival of the monsoon season, which will bring heavy rain and storms to the area.