In southern Thailand, at least 33 Chinese tourists have been confirmed dead in Thursday's boating accident off the popular tourist island of Phuket. So far, seventy-eight Chinese tourists have been rescued. Many remain missing. Earlier Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged the Foreign Ministry, the Chinese Embassy in Thailand and the government of Thailand to make all-out efforts to rescue the missing tourists. ZHENG CHUNYING has the story.  

"Everything happened in the blink of an eye." That's how a survivor recalled the tragedy.

The boat, named Phoenix, capsized on Thursday afternoon, after being hammered by five-meter-high waves whipped up by a storm off Thailand's southern resort island of Phuket.

It was carrying 105 passengers, the majority Chinese tourists.

Most of the tourists are one-day visitors to the island.

Others were staff and the families of a Chinese company.

SOMJING BOONTHAM CAPTAIN OF CAPSIZED BOAT "PHOENIX" "After the first wave hit the boat, rubbish got into the drainage engine, so the drainage system was not fast enough to keep the boat steady. Then more waves hit rapidly, the boat leaned to one side and then it capsized."

A weather warning was in place on Thursday, but boats still went out.

NORRAPHAT PLODTHONG GOVERNOR OF PHUKET "We have given warnings through radio and notified the press yesterday, but the winds are strong."

At least 78 Chinese have been rescued so far and taken to a nearby hospital. 36 have been identified.

Many are still unaccounted for.

Thailand is in the middle of its monsoon season, which means adverse weather conditions.

Several other vessels also got into trouble late Thursday in the area, but all of their passengers were rescued.

Finger crossed for everyone.

ZHENG CHUNYING CGTN.