Two missing at sea after scuba tour boat sinks

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PUBLISHED : 24 Dec 2023 at 11:37

Two missing at sea after scuba tour boat sinks
Rescued at sea: Tourists are rescued by a fishing boat while two remain missing after their boat sunk in Phangnga. (Photo: PR Phangnga Facebook page)

A Thai national and a foreign tourist are missing following a scuba diving tour mishap off the coast of the southern province of Phangnga yesterday, police said.

The Thai Maritime Enforcement Coordination Centre (Thai-MECC) received a report at 9am that the diving boat Porn Sawan had sunk after an accident near Torinla Island, also known as Koh Kai.

The incident took place just outside the Surin islands, about four nautical miles from the mainland, police said. With 18 people on board, the boat departed from Tap Lamung Port for the excursion.

Responding to the vessel’s distress call, the fishing boat Porn Supranee 9 managed to assist 16 people to safety. However, two passengers, one Thai national and the other identified as a foreign tourist, remain unaccounted for.

Search operations are ongoing for the pair.