5th body found on sunken boat

However officials were still unable to retrieve the body, as well as those of four other foreign tourists previously discovered in the boat, due to the deep water.

The scuba dive masters, hired by the diving cruise operator Dive Asia Company, inspected the sunken boat again yesterday and found the body inside a cabin, bringing the number trapped in the boat to five.

It was suspected the latest body is that of Japanese tourist Hirotsuka Yuba. Lt Colonel Wallop Puangpaka of Phuket marine police said they are still searching for Thai cook Sornthat Jampa. He said the search is difficult because the boat is located more than 70 metres underwater. However a body-retrieving operation would be held later in the afternoon.

Phuket Disaster Prevention and Mitigation official Chotenarin Kerdsom said the Austrian Consulate and family had claimed the body of Gabrielle Jetzinger for a funeral held yesterday at Wat Phra Thong in Thalang district.

He said that the father and relatives of the missing Japanese tourist had also contacted the Phuket special boat accident centre for information and to observe the search operation.