A TOURIST ferry boat that plies between Phuket and Phi Phi sank in a wild storm yesterday, the island's Marine Police Chief, Police General Anan Hungsaitong, said today.
He told Phuketwan that the Kacha Marine, a boat owned by a company of the same name, had carried 25 tourists to Phi Phi on Saturday.
The 22-metre vessel left Phi Phi to return to Phuket at 6am on Sunday, the general said. However, it was caught by a storm, hit by a large wave, and sank about 8am.
Marine Police were called and told of the sinking about 9.15am, he added. The incident took place off the island of Yao Yai, about six miles east of Phuket, the general said.
Five people on the vessel managed to scramble into a liferaft and were picked up safely, General Anan said. They were the vessel's captain, two crew, and two maids, he said.
The survivors were carried to Ao Po pier where they arrived about 1pm.
The ferry, shaped like a large longtail boat, was made of fibre and the company had a base in Rawai, he said.
It usually operated services from the Asia Marine pier at Rassada, where larger ferry usually depart on a daily basis for Phi Phi.
Yesterday's sinking follows the loss of the Dive Asia 1 dive boat earlier this year in which seven people drowned.
Twenty-three others on board had a narrow escape when the almost new vessel overturned and sank in a sudden squall off Patong. Investigations into the cause of that sinking are continuing.
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He told Phuketwan that the Kacha Marine, a boat owned by a company of the same name, had carried 25 tourists to Phi Phi on Saturday.
The 22-metre vessel left Phi Phi to return to Phuket at 6am on Sunday, the general said. However, it was caught by a storm, hit by a large wave, and sank about 8am.
Marine Police were called and told of the sinking about 9.15am, he added. The incident took place off the island of Yao Yai, about six miles east of Phuket, the general said.
Five people on the vessel managed to scramble into a liferaft and were picked up safely, General Anan said. They were the vessel's captain, two crew, and two maids, he said.
The survivors were carried to Ao Po pier where they arrived about 1pm.
The ferry, shaped like a large longtail boat, was made of fibre and the company had a base in Rawai, he said.
It usually operated services from the Asia Marine pier at Rassada, where larger ferry usually depart on a daily basis for Phi Phi.
Yesterday's sinking follows the loss of the Dive Asia 1 dive boat earlier this year in which seven people drowned.
Twenty-three others on board had a narrow escape when the almost new vessel overturned and sank in a sudden squall off Patong. Investigations into the cause of that sinking are continuing.
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