Death toll touches 44 in Thai boat accident: Phuket governor

REUTERS - The death toll has risen to 44 in the boat capsized accident off the coast of Thai island of Phuket, the local governor told a press conference on Tuesday.

"We have found three (more) bodies and are confirming their identity. The three have been counted into the death toll. So the death toll now has risen to 44." - Phuket governor

The governor told reporters that rescuers found two more bodies on Monday and another one on Tuesday morning. Zhou Guangxu, consul of the Chinese Embassy to Thailand, said there are still three missing from the accident, as no one could be confirmed as dead until being pulled out of the water.

"The bodies need to be pulled out of the water and sent to hospital before they are declared dead, according to the governor. Since they haven't been pulled out of water, they can only be counted as missing instead of being dead."  Zhou Guangxu

Thai navy officials said the rescue operation will go on despite of the adverse weather conditions Tuesday and they have employed fishermen to join the mission. Phuket police chief Major General Theerapol Thipcharoen said that the two captains of the sunken boats have been detained in a prison on Phuket island. And the manager of owning company of the "Serenita" has also been arrested and taken to immigration authority due to his Chinese nationality.