The missing Koreans were among more than 40 passengers returning from a day-trip to Phi Phi Islands when the speedboat they were in, the Seastar 29, collided with the fishing vessel Sinpichai 11.
Click here to see the original story
The speedboat was carrying a total of 46 passengers and crew when the collision occurred about 4pm. The Royal Thai Navy rescued 41 of the 43 tourists and returned them to shore at Rassada Pier by 8pm, but two Korean passengers were still not accounted for when the search was called off for the night.
"Boats and helicopters resumed the search at 8.00 this morning,” said Rear Admiral Somchai Na Bangchang of the 3rd Naval Area Command.
“All relevant official boats are helping to looking for the missing and all [private] boats have been notified to keep an eye out for the missing people.”
According to survivors, the speedboat sank quickly but the fishing boat was hardly damaged by the collision. No one on board the fishing vessel was injured.
The missing passengers have been named as Mr Go Min Woo, 31, and Mrs An Sun Yong, 28. As of 4pm this afternoon they had still not been found.
Among the 44 on board the Seastar 29 were 37 passengers: 23 Chinese; 4 Koreans; one Australian; one Japanese; one Briton, five Thais and the two missing Koreans.
The crew of six comprised five Thais and one Burmese – the helmsman, two deck hands, a photographer and two guides.
Phuket Police detained the Seastar 29's helmsman, a 36-year-old Krabi native named as Surat Mat-Osot, who faces charges of recklessness piloting resulting in injury. Surat is to be transferred to Krabi City Police Station for further questioning.
Phuket City Superintendent Sermphan Sirikong said the helmsman told police that the boats collided about 20 minutes after leaving Maya Bay on the way back to Phuket.
Surat said he had bent down to pick up a black plastic bag that had blown into the boat, and that he only noticed the trawler when he looked up. He turned sharply to try to avoid a collision but the speedboat became caught up in the trawler's fishing equipment and tipped over.
A total of 40 people were injured in the collision and sent to hospitals across the island. Four Thais, seven Chinese and one Burmese were sent to Vachira Phuket Hospital. Four Thais, seven Chinese and one British victim were taken to Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization (PPAO) Hospital while another injured Briton was taken to Mission Phuket Hospital along with two Thais and two Chinese.
A Thai, two Chinese and two Australians were sent to Phuket International Hospital. Four Chinese and two Koreans were taken to Bangkok Hospital Phuket.
Marine Police were on the scene within 30 minutes of receiving the distress call, said Lt Col Prasert Srikunrat, Deputy Superintendent of Phuket Marine Police.
“When we arrived on the scene, it appeared that Seastar 29 had hit the stern of the fishing vessel Sinpichai 11. The speedboat passengers were already on board the fishing boat by the time we arrived,” said Col Prasert.
Asked whether the speedboat passengers were wearing life jackets, Col Prasert said the boat was equipped with 45 life jackets as required by regulations but it was possble that not all the passengers were wearing them at the time.
A spokesperson for the Merchant Marine Training Centre (MMTC) in Samut Prakan, which is part of the Ministry of Transportation, said there is only one training office – the one in Samut Prakan. That office has been operating for 10 years, said the spokesperson, who declined to be named.
“All marine-related businesses must send their staff for training there before getting license by from the marine office,” said the spokesperson.
Phuket Marine Officer, Natchapong Pradit, said that boat captains have to take training courses to pilot boats over 250 tons. They must pass the courses at MMTC before they can apply for a license, he said.
But, he added, “Pilots of boats under 250 tons in weight, like the speedboat Seastar 29, do not need to go through training. However, they must have at least two years' experience and be able to prove they are knowledgeable about the regulations,” said Mr Natchapong.
The cost of the damage has not yet been estimated. Officials from the Korean Embassy were expected to meet with local officials later today and relatives of the two missing Koreans are due to arrive in Phuket tomorrow (Oct 21).
Anyone with any information relating to the missing passengers should call 076-391598.