PM expresses sorrow on Phuket boat accidents

BANGKOK, July 7 (TNA) -- Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has expressed sorrow over Thursday’s boat accidents off Phuket in which many Chinese tourists were found drowned and many are still missing, according to government spokesman. Lt Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the prime minister had expressed condolences to relatives of those who had lost their lives after two tourist boats and a jet ski capsized in rough seas off Phuket. Gen Prayut has ordered concerned government agencies to provide assistance to relatives of those who were perished in the accidents so that they could easily organise cremation ceremonies while he also ordered the Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry to issue condolence letters to governments of those tourists who died in the accidents, said Lt Gen Sansern. He said Gen Prayut had assigned responsible agencies to provide treatment to injured victims and to also put efforts in finding those who are still missing following the capsize. The accidents are considered significant because they involved foreign tourists and Phuket is known as prominent tourist destination in Thailand, therefore, related officials must find out causes of those accidents and who must take responsibility, Lt Gen Sansern quoted the prime minister as saying. Phuket authorities are ordered by the prime minister to establish a coordination centre and a public relations unit to issue accurate information on the accident and the provincial governor should head the unit, he said. Meanwhile, the media is requested by the prime minister not to publish pictures of the dead and this includes taking pictures by smartphone and forward to their relatives or friends, said Lt Gen Sansern, adding that such pictures would only tarnish Thailand’s image. (TNA)