Immigration police chief Maj. Gen. Surachate Hakparn said additional suspects were being investigated.
The accidents sparked outrage in China over Thai safety procedures. Thai authorities have promised justice for victims, especially amid concerns that the disaster could impact the tourism industry. In 2017, over 9.8 million Chinese visited Thailand, making up the most important share of the country’s 35.38 million foreign tourists.
On Monday evening, Surachate told reporters that, based on their investigation and evaluation of the ship’s plans, the boat had just one watertight door as an alternative of the beneficial 4 and that it had no “sea windows” that might be forced open within the event of an emergency.
“Many people died on the boat because they couldn’t break the window to get out,” he said.
Surachate said police would prepare a final investigation report next week, adding that experts from China and Germany also helped examine the Phoenix’s structure.
Chinese visitors turn away from Thailand after tourist boat disaster
Chinese visitors turn away from Thailand after tourist boat disaster
The Phoenix was lifted from the seabed on November 17 by a crane operated by a Singapore-based salvage company. Covered in brown algae and slime, the ship was then docked at a pier in Phuket. The first company hired to salvage the boat lost a member of its team during a botched operation to boost the ship.
