Thailand Boat Disaster: How did the tragedy happen?

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As search and rescue operations wind down, survivors are now receiving medical treatment. People are now focused on getting to the bottom of the incident. CGTN's Martin Lowe examines the worst Thai sea disaster in recent times.

Every day – unless prevented by bad weather - divers are going down to the wreck of the Phoenix. They're preparing to raise the boat from a depth of 45 meters. But that will take two weeks, once if specialist lifting-vessel arrives here from Malaysia.

A diving team from the Chinese Ministry of Transport at Guangzhou, is assisting the Thai navy and Western volunteers.

The wreck will be evidence in any criminal prosecution - and care will have to be taken when it's raised.

This video shows the boat's last moments before capsize.

More than 40 Chinese holidaymakers drowned when the boat was sunk in a storm, off the island of Phuket. Family members have flown here for the task of identifying the dead, and taking care of the bodies.

Survivors were plucked from the sea by fishing boats and pleasure craft that raced to the scene. A second boat capsized that day in five meter waves. The two boats were carrying more than 120 Chinese tourists.

HUANG JUNXIONG TRAGEDY SURVIVOR "The waves were really high and stormy, they were hitting the boat constantly. I was with my sister, brother and two friends from school – all of them are dead. I feel terrible."

Junsiong was rescued, but is devastated by the loss of family and friends. He left his hospital bed in a wheelchair, to attend a ceremony at the pier from where the boat set sail.

This man had six relatives on the stricken craft; five were drowned. He gave DNA to help identify them.

HUANG GUOQUAN RELATIVE "I have given as much information as I can, such as one of my relatives lost a finger by getting it caught in a washing machine when she was nine, so now she has only nine fingers."

A British volunteer exclusively told us removing the body of a small child from the wreck was the most harrowing thing he's had to do in 30 years of diving. The boy had been found cradled in his dead mother's arms.

DAVE WILSON RESCUE DIVER "Mike passed this little boy to me, he was the same as my son, about two and a half years-old, small child's life jacket, wearing a little pair of socks – it was just like looking at my son, it was horrible. As he was coming up I said a little prayer in Thai – that's what I'm used to now it's the Buddhist way - then I held on to the boy, gave him a cuddle."

There are so many casualties the hospitals have no room. The dead are being kept in refrigerated units at a Buddhist temple.

MARTIN LOWE PHUKET "Was it a so-called Act of God or human error – that's what Thai police are now investigating. They're talking to survivors, examining debris and awaiting the raising of the wreck."

The captain of the Phoenix and the boat's owners are among those being questioned. The Thai government has assured China: if there is fault, those responsible will face legal action.

Martin Lowe, CGTN, Phuket.