ID :
50283
Thu, 03/12/2009 - 20:18
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/50283
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Five bodies retrieved from Andaman wreckage; one still missing
PHUKET, March 12 (TNA) – Five bodies trapped inside a sunken tourist boat in Thailand’s Andaman Sea were retrieved on Thursday as a rescue team continued searching for the last remaining person on the fourth day of the search operation.
Divers located the four bodies caught in the wreckage in waters about 70 metres deep on Wednesday but removing them could not be done immediately due to difficulty of access and a shortage of oxygen for the divers.
Pol. Lt-Col. Wallop Puangpaka of the Phuket marine police said that the divers finally retrieved four bodies, believed to be those of an Austrian, a German and two Swiss nationals.
During the operation, another missing body, believed to be a Japanese tourist, was found and recovered, Lt-Col. Wallop said.
With five bodies retrieved on Thursday, he said, the focus of the rescue team and divers was now on searching for the last mission person from the capsize tragedy...a Thai cook.
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.
Twenty-three people were rescued initially on Monday, but seven were missing.
The first body was found floating in the Andaman Sea on Tuesday and was identified as Austrian woman Gabrielle Jetzinger. (TNA)
Divers located the four bodies caught in the wreckage in waters about 70 metres deep on Wednesday but removing them could not be done immediately due to difficulty of access and a shortage of oxygen for the divers.
Pol. Lt-Col. Wallop Puangpaka of the Phuket marine police said that the divers finally retrieved four bodies, believed to be those of an Austrian, a German and two Swiss nationals.
During the operation, another missing body, believed to be a Japanese tourist, was found and recovered, Lt-Col. Wallop said.
With five bodies retrieved on Thursday, he said, the focus of the rescue team and divers was now on searching for the last mission person from the capsize tragedy...a Thai cook.
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.
Twenty-three people were rescued initially on Monday, but seven were missing.
The first body was found floating in the Andaman Sea on Tuesday and was identified as Austrian woman Gabrielle Jetzinger. (TNA)
