Thailand to salvage sunken boat Phoenix this week

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Thai officials said on Tuesday that they plan to salvage the sunken Phoenix tourist boat before August 12, if weather conditions are good. The investigation into the tragedy that happened on July 5 is underway.

Phuket Marine Office Chief Wiwat Chitcherdwong said at a press conference held in the provincial government of Phuket that the boat's company refused to salvage it so the marine department has to do it instead.

"All necessary equipment is stalled underwater now and we are preparing to salvage the boat before August 12," Wiwat said, adding that the boat will be taken to a pier to be checked by authorities.

Phuket Police Commander Teerapol Thipjaroen (C) briefs the press on the investigation of the sunken tourist boat Phoenix in Phuket, Thailand, August 7, 2018. /Xinhua Photo

Two tourist boats, named Phoenix and Serenata, carrying a total of 122 Chinese tourists, were overturned in rough seas on July 5.

All 35 Chinese passengers on board Serenata were rescued while 47 out of 87 Chinese passengers on board Phoenix were killed.

Serenata has already been salvaged, according to Phuket Police Commander Teerapol Thipjaroen, while police are waiting for Phoenix to be salvaged.

Teerapol said on July 5 that some boats chose to come back earlier, while some boats chose to wait for the storm to pass and others sailed without getting overturned when Phoenix capsized.

"So, Phoenix's overturn has something to do with the boat's condition and the captain… we will investigate all aspects," he said.

A griefing Chinese relative is seen at the Vachira Phuket Hospital after a tourist boat carrying Chinese tourists capsized in rough seas in Phuket, July 8, 2018. /VCG Photo

Phuket governor Norapat Plodthong and Chief of the Phuket Provincial Office of Tourism and Sports, Sirawee Waloh, said that families of 33 victims have got compensation of 1.1 million baht (33,102 US dollars) per victim from two insurance companies while families of 30 victims have got 1 million baht per victim in compensation from Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

They both said they are working to pay the families of all victims as soon as they submit the required documents.

Norapat also mentioned that Phuket Province, along with other parts of the country, have stepped up security measures to keep tourists safe, such as installing CCTV in the main ports of Phuket, arranging authorities to check every boat before departure, and establishing a 24-hour Marin Monitoring and Rescue Center at Chalong Bay Pier.

(Top image: Thai navy and rescue ships arrive in the waters where the tourist boat Phoenix capsized, July 8, 2018. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency