Rescuers in Thailand searched Friday for a British man who was still missing after a speedboat packed with tourists capsized near the popular resort island of Koh Samui, leaving three women dead, officials said.
The boat, carrying 32 tourists and four crew members, capsized Thursday afternoon because of strong winds and high waves, said Pichet Sudduan, a port official. A Briton and German were found dead at the scene Thursday, and the body of a woman from Hong Kong woman was found Friday morning, police Maj. Gen. Apichart Boonsriraj said.
The boat’s occupants were thrown overboard and some were trapped under the vessel when it capsized. At least one person was pulled out after rescuers used hammers to smash a hole in the vessel’s hull.
Four people remained hospitalized Friday out of the 28 who received medical treatment, said Dr. Theerasak Viriyanon. He said one of the four has a fractured shoulder and another has a fractured skull. The other two suffered from a lack of oxygen and are being monitored for lung infections.
The boat’s captain, Sanan Seekakiaw, is being held by police for investigation and faces a possible charge of reckless endangerment causing death, punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
Sanan said the boat was traveling at about 10 knots (18 kilometers or 11 miles an hour) when high waves crashed onto its bow and overturned the vessel. He said he had asked all tourists to wear life vests but some had taken theirs off during the journey.
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