On Sunday (July 21st) rescue teams were still searching for Mr. Angelo Bien Rafael Cortez, 29, a Filipino tourist who went missing while playing in the sea near Phuket’s Freedom Beach on Wednesday afternoon. His parents, in a meeting with Phuket governor Phakaphong Tavipatana, expressed hope that he is still alive.
The parents handed a picture of their son to authorities hoping that it may help in the search.
The scope of the search has been expanded to cover Tambon Karon and Tambon Patong and has called for cooperation from all relevant local administrations.
Mr. Val Simon T. Roque, consul-general at the Embassy of the Philippines in Bangkok, and the wife of Noah Ibay II, whose body was discovered on Friday, met with the Phuket governor yesterday, to prepare repatriation of Mr. Ibay’s remains.
Mr. Ibay’s wife expressed her thanks to the Thai rescuers for recovering the body of her husband and said she has no further concerns regarding the cause of his death.
The two tourists came to Phuket as members of a group of 13. Six of them went to Freedom Beach to play in the sea and four of them returned safely. Mr. Ibay and Mr. Cortez were swept away by high seas and strong currents.
Meanwhile, the Thai Meteorological Department has issued a weather warning for people living in provinces along the Western coast of Thailand, including Ranong, Phang-nga, Krabi, Trang, Phuket and Satun, to be on the alert for heavy to very heavy rain, strong winds and waves of about 3 metres during the storms. TMD advised small boats to remain ashore.
