Tourist boat packed with 38 people sinks while off coast of holiday hotspot sparking desperate rescue mission in Phuket
DRAMATIC footage showed the moment a tourist ship with 38 people onboard sunk while off the coast of a holiday hotspot in Thailand.
The vessel – called The Ameray 888 – had set off on an excursion before disaster struck off Phuket on Monday.
A dramatic rescue mission was sparked after desperate flag for help was raised.
The shocking incident was caught on camera just off Ko Racha Island, Phuket.
The rescue mission was launched after the vessel sank from view in just 20 minutes.
The boat – worth around £380,000 – set off from the island’s Chalong Pier at around 12:30pm on Monday 13 January.
It was bound for another holiday hotspot – Koh Hey Island – but a distress call was sent shortly after the ship set sail.
Disaster struck when water started pouring through a detached window.
The doomed boat was carrying 33 Chinese tourists, a tour guide, an intern, and three crewmembers.
Several nearby boats rushed to the disaster scenes to desperately rescue those onboard.
These included a Maliwan fishing vessel and a tour boat.
Dramatic footage showed the tourists and crew climbing up the stairs of a heroic rescue boat.
Thankfully none of the 38 people on the vessel died as they were wearing life jackets.
Several Chinese tourists sustained minor injuries from the terror ordeal.
They were met with a response team and translators when they were taken back to Chalong Pier.
The director of the Phuket Regional Harbour Office, said: “The mandatory life jacket policy proved crucial.
“All passengers were wearing life jackets when the emergency occurred, allowing them to stay safely afloat until rescue arrived.”
Local authorities revealed an investigation has been launched into what caused this terrifying incident.
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