Heavy rain sinks tourist boat in Chanthaburi, 1 dead, 1 missing
One person died and another is missing after a boat carrying six people in the Chanthaburi River went down in heavy rain on Sunday night. The river is near the Gulf of Thailand.
A call for help was made to the Sawang Katanyu Rescue Foundation at around 8pm on Sunday when the boat began sinking near Wat Arakkha Thewada in Chanthaburi’s Laem Sing district.
Rescue officials reportedly spent several hours fishing five people out of the water, one of whom was an 11-year-old boy, before calling the search off due to strong currents caused by heavy rain and gusty winds. One passenger, a 40-year-old man, is still missing.
After the victims were brought to shore, the officials tried to resuscitate a woman but were unsuccessful. She was later pronounced dead in hospital.
Boat driver Surasak Charoensuk, 38, reportedly told officials that the boat had six people on board – four men and two women including him – and they were on a trip to catch peregrine crabs, which is popular night-time activity in the area.
He said the current became stronger as it continued raining heavily, and water began entering the boat, causing it to sink slowly while they were in the middle of the river. He then sent SOS signals to people onshore with a flashlight.
Rescue officials are scheduled to resume the hunt for the last victim on Monday morning.
The Thai Meteorological Department said on Sunday that more rain with gusty winds is likely in most parts of the country, with isolated heavy to very heavy rain possible in every region until Wednesday. It added that moderate wind in the Andaman Sea and the upper Gulf of Thailand will create waves of 1 to 2 metres high, which will be higher during thundershowers. Ships should proceed with caution and keep off thunderstorms.
