Search operation continues after a body of a woman was found from the diving boat accident in Phuket while six more are still missing

Search operation continues after a body of a woman was found from the diving boat accident in Phuket while six more are still missing

Andaman News on NBT TV Phuket reported that Police patrol boat TOR 221 and the Royal Thai Navy Third Command along with staff from the charity foundation of Kusoltham brought to shore a body of a woman found about 20 kilometres away from the popular sunset view point of Promthep Cape on the south side of Phuket Island.

The body was believed to be one of the missing Austrian divers. The Phuket Governor Preecha Rungjan held a meeting with all related agencies to get up-dates, instructing search and rescue teams to speed up operations searching for 6 other missing people. Yesterday afternoon he went on a Navy plane to get an aerial view of the location where the diving boat is believed to be sunk. A so-called ‘war room’ acting as centre of command and information has also been set up at the provincial hall to provide any information and assistance survivors or families of tourist divers may need.

A representative from Dive Asia Company told the meeting that experienced scuba divers and special equipment have been sent out to assist the search. Benno Brandon, a Director of Dive Asia Co, told Andaman News earlier that the boat was well equipped and only 4 months old. He said it had proper radio and radar communications, but the accident occurred swiftly and in the dark plus a rainy storm or freak wind.

Officials from Austrian and Japanese Embassies came down to Phuket to look after their affected citizens. Some German and Austrian survivors requested to return to their countries and the Tourist Police have reportedly arranged with Immigration officials to facilitate convenient journeys for them. At 8am today, the Royal Thai Navy sent up a helicopter to continue searching the area. The report also said that on Sunday March 8th, a local fishing boat sank near Bon Island just south of Rawai, on the south side of Phuket. There were three people on board and one is still missing.

11 March 2009
National News Bureau of Thailand