PHUKET, Nov 20 (TNA) – A religious rite was held on
Tuesday to honour the victims of Phoenix tour boat tragedy after the vessel has
been salvaged from the ocean off Phuket, four months after the accident killed
47 Chinese tourists.
After the boat with more than 100 tourists capsized in a
rough sea on July 5, the attempts to salvage the 200-ton ship had failed until
just last week. The boat wreckage was
brought to a pier in Phuket on Monday.
Buddhist monks performed a rite devoted for the deceased
tourists at a marine police station in Phuket where the wreckage has been hoisted
on Tuesday. Chinese diplomats also
attended the rite.
Police forensic team and engineers have examined the
wreckage to prepare reports on the cause of the fatal accident.
The Tourism and Sports Ministry and police have said the
probe aims to clarify a number of matters and find out who is responsible for
the boat’s sinking that has significantly affected the country’s image among
Chinese tourists.
Initial police investigation shows boat did not meet safety
standard such as using modified truck engine.
The Thai owner of nominee company TC Blue Dream, which
operated the Phoenix, and the vessel’s chief engineer have been arrested on
charges of recklessness causing death and injury. The chief of Phuket’s marine office was also
removed from his post pending the investigation.
Salvage operation also
led to the death of a diver in October. (TNA)
