Thai ship tragedy search ends, 28 bodies fished out

The Marine Department announced that the last body recovered from Sunday’s accident on the Chao Phraya river was that of a 70-year-old woman. After her body was recovered on Tuesday, the damaged boat was lifted from the water for an inspection to probe the cause of the accident.

The boat was carrying over 100 Thais home from an Islamic religious festival when it hit an underwater obstruction and sank quickly just a few meters (yards) from shore, about 80 km north of Bangkok. The boat’s capacity was reported to be 50 passengers.

The department said the boat’s helmsman was arrested on Tuesday for violating navigation laws by allowing too many passengers on board and having an expired licence.