Many feared dead as boats capsize off Phuket

[Zidane]

Local media are now reporting at least 40 bodies have been found but I have no means of verifying this.....anyone else heard anything ?.....RIP to the victims if true.

Last nights report.
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.
Some 48 passengers were rescued by a fishing trawler when one of the vessels, carrying 97 people, overturned in strong winds and rough seas.
Another 39 people were saved when a second passenger boat overturned.
Search and rescue efforts by the Thai Navy were hampered by conditions and have been suspended until Friday.
"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."
The incidents occurred at about 17:45 local time (11:45 GMT) on Thursday.

[AlexO]

58 missing since yesterday. Very likely that a high percentage of that number if not all will sadly be fatalities.

[Mosquito]

Anyone asking the following questions?

1. Boat capacity, was it overloaded. Goes alone with the number of lifevests onboard.
2. Last safety inspection, assume (laughable) after the previous and recent boat accidents passenger vessels were suppose to be checked.............right??? Do they even do captain certifications for passenger craft?
3. Thai Navy not having aircraft with ir capabilities, guess they spent their budget on subs and balloons. Old C-130's can handle pretty rough weather and with FLIR can cover a large area and locate individuals in the water day and night.
4. Will death total be enough for Thai officials to really crackdown on unsafe passenger craft/operators?

[Lone Star]

This seems to be something that Thailand has in common with the Philippines and what they call their super ferries.

Like Mosquito pointed out, I wonder about all of those "checks" that are common in our home countries. As a result, I don't get on any boats here, and needless to say, I won't be using the ferry running between Pattaya and Hua Hin. I view all these similar boats as being in the same category as the midnight buses.

[Zidane]

Thai rescuers have deployed helicopters to search for missing people after a boat carrying Chinese tourists sank, with one official saying he feared there was "no chance" of any more survivors, which would mean nearly 60 dead.
Key points:
The confirmed death toll from the accident is 38
Thai media reports said the owner and captain of the ship has been charged
The Thai Government said the official death toll stood at 41 with 15 still missing.
The boat capsised in rough seas on Thursday with 105 people on board, 93 of them Chinese tourists along with 12 Thai crew and tour guides.
Divers who entered the wreck of the tour boat described heart-breaking scenes of bodies of children found in the arms of their mothers.

[jimjay]

4. Will death total be enough for Thai officials to really crackdown on unsafe passenger craft/operators?

The Thais know full well the risks but they don't care. At likely 1,500thb per head the boat is making 150,000 THB or more per trip. That's close to 1 million THB per week, -which of course greases the slimy hands of all the authorities top down.

A real country would have their coast guard enforcing the area.

How about someone creates a tour boat wreckage map of the sea floor from Chalong Pier Phuket to Phi-Phi, to Similans, and down to Khao Lak. Wholesale slaughter on the high seas.

Puts the cave rescue in perspective don't it? -Thaland to have the entire world help to save 13 of their own, yet on the other side facilitate mass death for profit of non-Thais.

[Mosquito]

4. Will death total be enough for Thai officials to really crackdown on unsafe passenger craft/operators?

The Thais know full well the risks but they don't care. At likely 1,500thb per head the boat is making 150,000 THB or more per trip. That's close to 1 million THB per week, -which of course greases the slimy hands of all the authorities top down.

A real country would have their coast guard enforcing the area.

How about someone creates a tour boat wreckage map of the sea floor from Chalong Pier Phuket to Phi-Phi, to Similans, and down to Khao Lak. Wholesale slaughter on the high seas.

Puts the cave rescue in perspective don't it? -Thaland to have the entire world help to save 13 of their own, yet on the other side facilitate mass death for profit of non-Thais.

would also be interested, if negligence cancels the owners insurance coverage.

most likely not, so basically 40+ people die........ captain and crew take the rap........boat owner/operator gets a new boat and another unqualified/reckless captain and recoups any loses by completion of next high season.

so long as I'm taking free shots here:
1. ex-navy seal diver dies, why would you have someone not active or that might now be up to par physically assisting in the rescue.
2. aircrew of plane crash gets advanced from Lt to Major General even before the cause of the accident is known. not sure, but isn't 80% or higher of air accidents attributed to human error.

[newtovillagelife]

If your home countries do things so much better, why live here?? Seems if you choose to live here, you are even more stupid than you claim they are.

[Mosquito]

If your home countries do things so much better, why live here?? Seems if you choose to live here, you are even more stupid than you claim they are.

if you really must know, I have a daughter with my Thai GF. never claimed to be the brightest, but stupid is stupid no matter what country you're from.

[mak]

Phuket.

[Mosquito]

Read yesterday they just removed the safety/operating license for both boats, guess you need to be sitting on the bottom of the ocean to lose your license.