Phuket, Thailand – July 11, 2018 (CGTN – No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of survivors, victims' families, monks, rescuers at ceremony

Phuket, Thailand – July 10, 2018 (CGTN – No access Chinese mainland)
2. Various of Buddhist temple
3. Banner reading (Thai/Chinese) "With sincere condolences to those lost at sea"
4. Various of coffins
5. Tent housing coffins
6. Attendees at ceremony
7. SOUNDBITE (Thai) Norapat Plodthong, Phuket Governor:
"We are representing the government of Thailand. The service was to show sympathy and respect to the families of those lost in the boat accident."

Phuket Province, Thailand - July 8, 2018 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
8. Various of rescuers on boat, rafts

Phuket Province, Thailand - July 7, 2018 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
9. Sunken boat "Phoenix" underwater

Families of those killed in a Thai boating accident held ceremonies to commemorate the victims on Tuesday and Wednesday.

A total of 43 Chinese holidaymakers are confirmed to have died when a pleasure boat sank in a storm off the island of Phuket.

Survivors, anguished relatives, and rescuers who've been working around-the-clock gathered on Wednesday for a ceremony at the pier where the tourist boat "Phoenix" departed.

For some it was too much. Cries of grief rang out, reminding people of the enormity of the loss.

Monks chanted in unison, offerings were made, and flower petals were sprinkled into the sea, as families came together to share their sorrow.

Meanwhile, out of sight on the ocean, work to recover the sunken boat and piece together how the accident happened, went on.

Earlier there had been another ceremony at a Buddhist temple, where special mobile refrigerated units are housing a majority of the bodies.

In a nearby building, row upon row of coffins sat quietly in the night.

There are so many casualties the hospitals couldn't house them. The bodies were brought to the temple so the families could say their goodbyes, pray and reflect.

"We are representing the government of Thailand. The service was to show sympathy and respect to the families of those lost in the boat accident," said Phuket governor Norapat Plodthong.

Some of the bodies will be taken back to China for burial. Others will be cremated in Thailand and the ashes carried home.

Many relatives want to wait for auspicious dates for the ceremonies, a common custom in Asia.

Police are investigating the accident, and the ship's captain has been arrested.