Chinese tourists in fatal Thai boat collision return home

WUHAN, Dec. 4 -- Twenty-two tourists returned to China Friday afternoon after experiencing a fatal speed boat collision in Thailand.

Five others remained in Thailand, one of whom was discharged on Friday while the rest four hospitalized are in stable condition, said Qi Xin, general manager of the Wuhan Spring International Travel Service in the capital city of central China's Hubei Province.

A boat carrying 29 Chinese tourists and a tour guide clashed with another boat at 12:30 local time Thursday in Thailand. Two were drowned.

Victims were identified as 57-year-old Zheng Honglu from local taxation bureau of Qingshan district in Wuhan and 50-year-old businessman Chen Dingshan.

Families of the victims have been compensated with 350,000 yuan (51,470.6 U.S. dollars) each by insurance companies, Qi said.

The tourists left Wuhan on Nov. 29 for a six-day trip.