Issued at 11.00 Hrs. (GMT+7) on 12 July 2018
According to Phuket’s command centre to provide support for the affected tourists from the recent tragic boat incidents, 46 people were confirmed dead and one body was still trapped under the sunken boat, Phoenix. The search team continued their efforts to recover the remaining body today.
*Pictures from today’s search mission:
Forensic Police in cooperation with Chinese officials confirmed identification of 43 victims from 46 bodies recovered. Thirty-eight official certificates of death were issued with seven in the process.
Thai authorities in cooperation with Chinese officials are exerting all efforts to provide much-needed support and comfort in what is an extremely difficult time for family members and friends of those who lost their lives.
Funeral services for those who lost their lives continued today, following a Buddhist chanting ceremony in the evening of 10 July and a mass Buddhist prayer ceremony in the morning of 11 July. Upon requests of relatives, cremations were arranged for 16 victims at local temples in Phuket and five bodies were sent back home to China.
Since the tragic incidents took place in late afternoon of 5 July, Thailand’s public and private sectors in cooperation with Chinese officials have been providing round-the-clock assistance and support to the affected tourists and their families.
Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha personally visited injured tourists and families of those who lost their lives, and ordered tighter tourist safety and security measures to prevent any further unfortunate events from occurring.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has announced financial support of 63.96 million Baht to the affected tourists in addition to the compensation scheme under the insurance policies taken out by the boat operators and tour companies.
The Phuket Tourist Assistance Co-ordinating Centre at Vachira Phuket Hospital will continue to exert all efforts to provide support to all affected tourists and their families, including coordinating with the respective public and private agencies on matters like taking the deceased’s body back home, legalising proof of relationship documents, and arranging funerals in accordance to the religion and beliefs of those who lost their lives upon the requests of relatives.
