The Thai Maritime Enforcement Coordination Centre (Thai-MECC) received a report at 9am that the diving boat Porn Sawan had had an accident and sunk near Torinla island, also known as Koh Kai, reports the Bangkok Post.
The incident took place just outside the Surin islands, about four nautical miles from the mainland.
The boat, with 14 passengers on board, had departed from Tap Lamung Port for a diving excursion.
Responding to the vessel’s distress call, the fishing boat Porn Supranee 9 managed to assist 12 people to safety.
The 12 rescued people were returned to shore at noon, and search operations are currently under way to locate the missing persons with helicopters and rescue boats dispatched yesterday.
However, at time of press, the two passengers, one Thai national and the other identified as a foreign tourist, remain unaccounted for.
- Additional reporting by The Phuket News