A rescue team departure from a dock to the accident area in Phuket, Thailand, July 6, 2018. (Xinhua/Qin Qing)
BANGKOK, July 6 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Consulate-General in Songkhla told Xinhua late Friday that among the total of 127 Chinese tourists on board two boats capsized in southern Thailand on Thursday, 78 people were rescued, 28 bodies were found and there are still 21 missing.
All 35 tourists on board boat "Serenata" were rescued, 43 among total 93 Chinese tourists on board boat "Phoenix" were rescued, the Consulate-General said.
A total of 28 bodies have been found, with 16 having been identified and 12 still under identification process.
There are still 21 missing and the injured are being treated at local hospitals, according to the Chinese Consulate-General.
The Consulate-General said it had asked Thai authorities to do their best to track those who are still missing and never give up hope of finding survivors. It has also sent a team to follow the advancement of rescue work and visit the injured persons in hospitals.
The Chinese Consulate-General also said that according to Thai media, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan had said the ship owner and the captain should be responsible as they ignored storm warning from Meteorological Department of Thailand.
