Regional News
VIDEO: Briton Still Missing After Speed Boat Capsizes in Koh Samui, Thailand
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KOH SAMUIÂ -Â Briton Jason Robert Parnell remains missing after a speedboat packed with overseas visitors capsized near Koh Samui on Thursday evening, killing three foreigners.
The boat was carrying 32 tourists, a guide and three crewmen capsized in wind-whipped seas near Wat Na Phra Lan on Koh Samui. Briton Monica Cozma, 28, and German Franciska Kafo, 29, died at the scene when the boat capsized. Three women and a man remained in hospital.
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The Speedboat driver Sanan Sitakaew, 47, said they were returning from scuba diving trip off the Ang Thong islands when waves struck the boat, causing it to overturn.
The other 30 passengers thrown into the sea were quickly rescued by another speedboats and a marine rescue boat.
Thanankorn Trabanpruek, chief of the disaster prevention and mitigation office in Surat Thani province, said that teams were still searching for Briton Jason Robert Parnell.
The body of the Hong Kong woman was found around 11am today.
Pol Col Akrawas Sithanaboonubon, inspector from Marine Police 3 said search teams on Friday morning marked off the site of the accident and expanded the search radius by 200 metres at a time.
He said the speedboat had a capacity to accommodate 45 passengers so it was not overloaded. He said bad weather may also have played a role in the accident, as the area is known for heavy winds.
Surat Thani governor Wongsiti Promchana said the Koh Samui Marine Department office needed to be more careful in supervising boats during periods of strong wind.
He said the tourists were not wearing life jackets on board and action could be taken against the boat operator Ang Thong Discovery Co.
The speedboat driver Sanan Sitakaew, 47,is being held in police custody pending an investigation.
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