Chinese tourist missing off Thailand island

BANGKOK - A Chinese tourist is missing off Thailand's Phuket island after falling from seaside rocks, the Chinese embassy said on Friday.

The 20-year-old Chinese surnamed Gao and his 25-year-old friend, surnamed Liu, were taking photos on the famous Phromthep Cape Wednesday evening when both of them slipped and fell from into the sea, local media reported.

An official with the Chinese Consulate-General in Songkhla told Xinhua that Liu was quickly rescued from the water and sustained minor scratches, but Gao still remains missing.

He said both of them were students.

A rescue operation is still underway in the sea area where strong currents were reported. Four rubber boats and Navy divers were dispatched to search around the edge of the cape.