BANGKOK, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The disaster prevention and mitigation office of Thailand's southern province of Surat Thani has ordered all evening and night services of ferry boats be suspended until further notice.

The order came after a ferry with 16 people on board, including drivers of three lorries loaded with garbage and one pickup truck, sank on Sunday night during a storm off Samui Island which is under the jurisdiction of the Surat Thani Province.

Two bodies have been recovered. Three are still missing as rescue mission has been deployed into the rough seas to search for more bodies.

"I signed the order and can confirm that all ferry boat services are suspended until further notice," said Surat Thani governor Witchawut Jinto, on Monday, "it is too dangerous for ferry boats to wander out in rough seas in the Gulf of Thailand."

The governor said that the suspension of ferry boat evening and night services include to and from three major tourist islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao.

The order suspended boat services on the Don Sak-Koh Samui-Koh Phangan route between 5 p.m. and 5 a.m, from Aug. 2 to 4.

The order also suspended all ferry services between Koh Tao and Koh Phangan, from 5 p.m. on Aug. 2 to 3 p.m. on Aug. 4.

Witchawut also said search and rescue mission will continue on Tuesday. Enditem

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