Centre set up in Phuket to help victims of ferry fire

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Centre set up in Phuket to help victims of ferry fire
SALINEE PRAB
THE NATION



Rescuers find body of Israeli girl, as tourists lament loss of passport

PHUKET: -- POLICE have set up a centre to provide assistance to the 100 or so victims of Wednesday's ferry fire, many of whom lost their passports in the blaze.

The Ao Nang Princess Boat caught fire and sank off Andaman Sea while it was heading back to Phuket province.

One of the passengers, a 12-year-old Israeli girl, was found dead yesterday. The girl had been initially reported missing, but her body was found after rescuers scoured the area.

The centre is based at the Muang Phuket Police Station, with volunteer interpreters on hand to help.

"Most victims are in Phuket for now," Muang Phuket Police Station's superintendent Colonel Kraithong Janthongbai said.

The victims hail from different countries, including Britain, Australia, Hungary and China.

Natalie Lee, a 29-year-old Briton, told police she and her husband had to fly back to London on Saturday.

"We'd come here for our honeymoon," she said, recalling that she and her husband had put on life vests and jumped into the sea to escape the fire.

A Chinese tourist said she had been floating in the water for about half an hour before a boat came by and rescued her.

"I am still scared and want to go home now. I hope I can get a new passport soon," the 22-year-old said, adding that in reality her holiday is scheduled to finish next week.

Police are now investigating to determine the cause of the fire. The driver and technician of the boat have already provided testimony and do not face any charges for the time being.

"It is unclear whether the accident occurred due to their recklessness or not," Phuket's deputy police chief Colonel Boontawee Toraksa said.

According to him, the boat will be salvaged and experts will be recruited to examine its condition.

"We should get clearer information after the examination," he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Centre-set-up-in-Phuket-to-help-victims-of-ferry-f-30257772.html


-- The Nation 2015-04-10

[zaphod reborn]

"It is unclear whether the accident occurred due to their recklessness or not," Phuket's deputy police chief Colonel Boontawee Toraksa said.

Yes, raging ferry fires always occur in the absence of recklessness and gross neglect.

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Passengers from sunken ferry file reports with Phuket police
Eakkapop Thongtub


The ferry caught fire and sank close to Nopparatthara Beach

PHUKET: -- Thirty-four passengers who were on board the Ao Nang Princess 5 ferry which burned and sank on Wednesday afternoon (April 8) were interviewed by police yesterday morning (April 9) after filing lost property reports with Kathu police.

At 10:00am, eleven investigators from Kathu police station interviewed 34 passengers, both Thai and foreign, who were on board the sunken vessel after they filing lost property reports.

Kathu police helped with the interviewing, but Ao Nang police will handle all other cases involved with the incident.

A further 63 passengers have filed reports with Karon police.

One passeneger, Darana Jansuwan, 39, from Hat Yai told police that she was on the lower deck of the ferry when someone yeld that the boat was on fire.

“I ran to the upper level then return back to grab a life jacket. It was chaos. The fire was burning so quickly.

“People gathered at one end of the boat on both levels to wait for speedboats to pick us up.

“After waiting 10-15 minutes, and with no help arriving, many people jumped into the sea.

“About 15 minutes later some fishing boats came and plucked the people from the sea. They transported some of the passengers to Rassada pier.”

“We later learned that one passenger from the ferry died,” said Darana.

Senior Investigator, Col Songwut Khunchan said that most of the tourists who went to Karon police station had sone so to file lost item reports.

The ferry caught fire and sank close to Nopparatthara Beach. The captain, Wirat Jittraporn, 51, said the fire started in the engine room. An electrical short-circuit is suspected but this has yet to be confirmed.

Twelve-year-old Shani Maril from Israel was the only victim in the incident everyone else who was on board were rescued unharmed.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/passengers-from-sunken-ferry-file-reports-with-phuket-police-51821.php


-- Phuket News 2015-04-10

[marko kok prong]

Lack of maintenance?

[jpp2bkk]

Lack of maintenance, lack of professionalism, lack of competence, lack of safety, cowardice from the crew ....thainess at it's best. A family went to Thailand for holidays and back home without their daughter because of those morons. I would sue them, make them pay, harass them, not made them rest to share the hell those parents are living with. I'm so sorry for this family.

Edited April 10, 2015 by jpp2bkk

[Johnny S]

Lack of maintenance, lack of professionalism, lack of competence, lack of safety, cowardice from the crew ....thainess at it's best. A family went to Thailand for holidays and back home without their daughter because of those morons. I would sue them, make them pay, harass them, not made them rest to share the hell those parents are living with. I'm so sorry for this family.

Agree 100% - a Family return home without their 12 year old daughter cause of these imbecilles, what a nightmare - No wonder people dont come back to this infamous place after they have seen whats really going on here ...

I hope the Family will know who to sue cause the authorities are not gonna help them with anything - as usual ...

RIP little girl

[Rogergreybeard]

Let's have another meeting

[NamKangMan]

Let's have another meeting

Let's have another press release stating, "The industry has been fixed" - yet nothing has changed at all.

Edited April 11, 2015 by NamKangMan

[geriatrickid]

It would have been nice if the Thai authorities had respected the international conventions to which Thailand is a signatory and advised the foreign embassies and consulates in a prompt and timely manner.