PHUKET/BANGKOK, Thailand 8 Jul (ANA) - Rescuers in Thailand on Sunday said they would work through the night to move the bodies of 41 people, including 13 children, who died after a boat carrying Chinese tourists sank off the coast of Phuket, from hospitals to a Buddhist temple.

 

Rescuers on Sunday delayed plans to lift the sunken Phoenix, which went down in bad weather on Thursday with 105 people on board, including 93 Chinese tourists, and 12 Thai crew, due to heavy waves, said navy commander Vice Admiral Somnuk Prempramoj, who is based in the area and part of the search operation.

 

Authorities have confirmed 41 deaths, 15 missing and 49 have been rescued. Divers, including 17 from China, had planned to retrieve a body from the sunken vessel on Sunday but the search was called off because of adverse weather conditions.

 

Of the 41 dead, 13 were children, said Chalermpong Sukontapol, director of the Vachira Phuket Hospital where the dead were taken.

 

“Of the 41 Chinese tourists that died, there were eight boys, ten men, five girls, and 18 women,” said Chalermpong.(ANA)

FA/ANA/8 July 2018--------