Many of the tourists were rescued by a fishing trawler when one of the vessels capsized in strong winds and seven-metre high seas.
The search is continuing in Thailand for more than 50 tourists missing after two passenger boats capsized off the coast of Phuket during stormy weather early Thursday evening.
Many of the tourists were rescued by a fishing trawler when one of the vessels capsized in strong winds and seven-metre high seas.
One of the boats, The Phoenix, carrying Chinese tourists, had left the popular snorkelling spot of Koh Racha to return to Phuket.
Police investigators said most of the tourists were wearing life jackets when the boat went down.
The Chinese Consulate-General in Thailand announced at Friday noon that 77 Chinese tourists had been rescued so far, among which five were undergoing surgery and six were in hospital for further observation. Seven of the passengers were reported dead but many more deaths were expected.
Phuket governor Norraphat Plodthong told Xinhua news agency that two survivors had been found on Friday morning, including a Chinese tourist and a Thai crewmember.
Another 39 people were saved when a second passenger boat overturned while returning to Phuket from outlying islands.
The Phoenix was among several boats that appeared to have ignored a severe weather warning in place since Wednesday to take tourists on day-trips to the islands off Phuket, the BBC reported.