This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-44728478

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Thailand boat sinking: At least 21 confirmed dead Thailand tourist boat sinking: At least 33 confirmed dead
(about 3 hours later)
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. At least 33 people are known to have died after a tourist boat capsized off the Thai holiday island of Phuket.
The Phoenix - which had 105 people on board, mainly Chinese tourists - went down in stormy weather late on Thursday afternoon. The news came as Thai authorities suspended their search for a second night.
Search and rescue operations, suspended overnight, resumed on Friday morning. The Phoenix - which had 105 people on board, mainly Chinese tourists - went down in bad weather on Thursday.
However, there are conflicting reports of how many bodies have been pulled from the water. Phuket provincial governor Norapat Plodtong said 23 people were still unaccounted for, with 49 rescued.
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. Divers had made four underwater searches before the weather conditions made it too dangerous on Friday, the BBC Thai Service reports. They will resume the search on Saturday.
Divers are continuing to search the sunken hull of the Phoenix.
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.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.
She was rushed to hospital, but her condition is unknown. She was rushed to hospital, but her condition is unknown. A total of 37 people have received treatment in hospital.
Another 39 people were saved when a second boat, carrying mostly European passengers, overturned at about the same time.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. 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. Mr Plodthong said that a further 10 smaller boats were also stranded at sea on Thursday, adding that a weather warning had been issued because of "strong winds and storms" on Wednesday.
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.
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.