Wuhan students praised for volunteer efforts after Phuket ferry sinking

Four graduate students from a medical university in Wuhan have won praise for their efforts to help the survivors and their families following last week's ferry disaster off the cost of Phuket, Thailand. 

The tour boat, called The Phoenix, capsized in rough seas on Thursday evening. So far 46 people have been confirmed killed. 

Chen Zhilin, Zhou Qian, Fang Hanyi, and Jiang Kexin work at as volunteers at Vajira Hospital in Phuket, Thailand. [File photo: Xinhua]

Xinhua News Agency reports that Chen Zhilin, Zhou Qian, Fang Hanyi, and Jiang Kexin are students at the Huazhong University of Science and Technology medical school. 

In Thailand on holiday, the group changed their plans and flew into Phuket on Saturday after they heard about the accident. 

They have been working as volunteers helping the families of the survivors to communicate with medical staff, and providing assistance the families of the people killed in the accident. 

Their volunteer efforts have been praised by people in China, however the group has said that "the people taking part in the search and rescue operation, the staff members at the consulate, and the local Chinese volunteers deserve more respect."

Xinhua reports that about 80 volunteers are currently working at Vajira Hospital, which is treating the survivors. Most of the passengers on the stricken ferry were Chinese.

The Thailand Council for the Promotion of the Peaceful Reunification of China established an emergency response team in Bangkok offering accommodation, food, and visa registration for Chinese nationals involved in the accident.