Search resumes for 23 missing tourists in Thai boat tragedy

By AP

Published : Jul 7, 2018 - 12:23 Updated : Jul 7, 2018 - 12:23

A search has resumed for some 23 missing tourists on a boat that sank during a storm off the southern resort island of Phuket.

The death toll from Thursday's tragedy hit 33, all of them Chinese nationals, in Thai tourism's biggest disaster in years.

Divers who entered the wreck of the tour boat Friday described heart-breaking scenes of bodies of children found in the arms of their mothers.

Divers carry oxygen tanks at Chalong pier in Phuket on July 7, 2018, as rescue operations continue for missing tourists following a boat accident on July 5. (AFP)

Diver Philip Entremont told reporters before resuming search Saturday: "It's very difficult to see ... it's traumatic, it's tragic but the best thing to do, our job as divers, is to bring back the bodies to their families."

The boat, with 105 people, including 93 tourists, capsized and sank after it was hit by 5-meter (16-foot) high waves. (AP)