PHUKET, Thailand (AP) - The Latest on the search for survivors from boat capsizing off Thai resort of Phuket (all times local):
10:30 p.m.
The Chinese Embassy in Thailand says its ambassador had an “emergency conversation” by phone with Thailand’s deputy prime minister after a boat sinking off Phuket in which at least 33 Chinese tourists died.
The statement late Friday said Chinese Ambassador Lyu Jian spoke with Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak and called on Thailand to quickly mobilize an intensive search for the missing and make appropriate arrangements for those who were rescued and injured. Lyu said China hoped the cause of the capsizing would be quickly ascertained.
The search for the 23 people still missing was to resume Saturday morning.
A local government in eastern China said on its official microblog account that the head of the Haining Haipai Furniture Co. Ltd had identified many of the boat passengers as its employees and their families.
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7:15 p.m.
Thai authorities say the death toll in a boat accident off the coast of Phuket has climbed to 33, all of them Chinese nationals.
The chief of the Phuket Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation office said Friday evening that the search for another 23 people missing has been called off until morning.
He said the search will resume at 5 a.m. Saturday.
The dead were passengers on a boat that was carrying 105 people, including 93 tourists, 11 crew and one tour guide when it toppled in 5-meter (16-foot) -high seas Thursday.
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5:05 p.m.
Thailand’s prime minister has expressed his condolences to the families of those killed in a boat accident of the resort island of Phuket.
In a statement issued Friday, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha also said the government will “exert all efforts to find those still missing and provide support to all survivors of this tragic event.”
The accident has left at least 21 people dead, most of them Chinese tourists. Dozens are missing.
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3:20 p.m.
Thai authorities say the death toll in a boat accident off the coast of Phuket has climbed to 17.
The chief of the Phuket Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation office said Friday afternoon that another 38 people were missing.
At least 10 of the dead where Chinese tourists.
Navy divers are scouring the wreckage of a boat that was carrying 105 people, including 93 tourists, 11 crew and one tour guide when it toppled in 5-meter (16-foot) -high seas Thursday.
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12:45 p.m.
Thai authorities say the death toll in a boat accident off the coast of Phuket has climbed to 10 and is expected to continue rising.
Thailand’s navy said early Friday afternoon that nine bodies of Chinese tourists were being brought to Phuket. Authorities had already confirmed the death of another Chinese man.
Navy official Narong Aurabhakdi says some of the bodies were found by divers who entered the wreck Friday and others were floating in the water.
The dead were passengers on a boat that was carrying 105 people, including 93 tourists, 11 crew and one tour guide when it toppled in 5-meter (16-foot) -high seas Thursday.
The search for about 45 more people missing continues.
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11:05 a.m.
Thai authorities say they will be sending divers into a tour boat that capsized off the resort island of Phuket to search for 56 people still missing.
A navy deputy commander, Charoenpol Kumrasri, told a news conference Friday morning that they hope survivors can be found in the boat, which sits about 30 meters (98 feet) below the surface. He said about 30 navy divers would be sent to take part.
The boat was carrying 105 people, including 93 tourists, 11 crew and one tour guide when it toppled in 5-meter (16-foot) -high seas Thursday. One Chinese male passenger has been confirmed dead and at least 12 people hospitalized.
Phuket’s governor has declared the area a disaster zone.
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9:55 a.m.
Thai police say 56 people are still missing in waters off the resort island of Phuket after a storm capsized a diving boat packed with tourists.
The commander of Phuket Provincial Police, Teerapol Tipcharoen, says seas have calmed since the accident Thursday evening and the search is ongoing.
The boat was carrying 105 people, including 93 tourists, 11 crew and one tour guide when it toppled in 5-meter (16-foot) -high seas Thursday. One Chinese male passenger has been confirmed dead, and at least 12 people hospitalized.
Another boat also overturned off Phuket on Thursday. Officials said all 42 on board have been rescued.
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