>> Eight more bodies were retrieved yesterday from a tourist boat that capsized off Phuket on Thursday, bringing the death toll to 41, as authorities gear up efforts to locate the 15 who are still missing.
The eight, Phuket governor Norapat Plodthong said, were found trapped in the Phoenix, which sank about seven nautical miles from Ao Chalong pier in Muang district following a freak storm. Their bodies were brought shore and would undergo identify verification at Vachira Phuket Hospital, he said.
There were 105 people -- 93 tourists, 12 crew and several tour guides -- on board the Phoenix when it went under at Laem Mong near Koh Heh in tambon Rawai. Most of the passengers were Chinese. As of yesterday, 17 bodies had had their identities verified, he said, insisting the search for the 15 missing people still continues.
The governor said a centre will be opened as a contact point for relatives of the victims at the Phuket airport.
He also thanked the Chinese government for sending its diving team to join the search.
The governor said he hoped those missing would be found in the next couple of days. Authorities in nearby Krabi province are also looking out for them.
R Adm Charoenpol Kumrasi, deputy commander of the 3rd Naval Area, said the search is being widened. Aircraft have been sent to look for the missing people while 17 Thai and Chinese divers work together to locate the victims, he said.
R Adm Charoenpol said divers searched all compartments in the sunken boat yesterday.
A total of 13 patrol boats were deployed to locate the victims and there will be more frequent patrols, he said, adding the search area was being narrowed.
According to the navy, HTMS Chao Phraya also serves as a floating command centre of the search. Navy seals and more divers from the 2nd Naval Area will join the mission.
According to Mr Norapat, 1.4 million baht will be given to the relatives of each dead victim. The money is from insurance and compensation provided by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
The governor said seven working teams are up and running, including those specialising in searches, identification verification, public relations as well as cooperation with relatives of the victims.
Meanwhile, China has urged Thailand to spare no efforts in locating the missing victims. Chinese Ambassador Lyu Jian said the Chinese government is concerned about the capsize, according to the website of the Chinese embassy in Thailand.
The ambassador urged the Thai authorities to keep up the search efforts and mobilise forces for the cause. Mr Lyu and his team yesterday visited the rescue operation command centre in Phuket.
