Four bodies found in sunken boat wreckage; two still missing

PHUKET, March 11 (TNA) - Four more victims have been found from the Andaman Sea tragedy in which a tourist boat capsized en route to Phuket after leaving from the Similan Islands on Sunday evening, but divers could not immediately retrive the bodies due to difficulty of access and a shortage of oxygen, according to Thai police.

Lt-Col. Wallop Puangpaka of the Phuket marine police said Wednesday that divers had found the bodies of four missing foreign tourists trapped inside the wreckage which was found in waters about 70 metres deep. The bodies were believed to be those of an Austrian, a German and two Swiss nationals.

Col. Wallop said the divers were unable to retrieve the bodies as the location where the sunken wreckage was found was quite deep and light was too dim to complete the operation. The divers had also run out of oxygen.

The recovery crew will resume the operation Thursday morning.

Meanwhile, the body found floating of Phuket on Tuesday was identified as Austrian woman Gabrielle Jetzinger by family members earlier Wednesday.

Police and naval rescue crews were to continue searching for one Japanese and one Thai crew member still missing.

The family of the Austrian woman planned to perform religious rites at Phuket.

The accident occurred when the commuter boat ‘Choke Somboon 19', ferrying some 30 Thai and foreign passengers from the Similan Islands to Phuket’s Patong Beach, capsized Sunday night in high seas, heavy rain and strong winds. The boat owner has been asked to retrieve the sunken boat and remove an oil slick on the sea's surface.

The boat owner also hired foreign divers to help recover the missing persons. (TNA)