Six tour boats and a fishing vessel have sunk in the Gulf and the Andaman Sea in the past four days. Two passengers, a skipper and five crew are still missing.
The “Sawan Tour” dive boat, carrying 16 tourists, mostly foreigners, on a diving trip near Mu Ko Surin National Park in the Andaman Sea, off Phang-nga province, sank on December 23rd. 16 tourists were rescued and two are missing.
The third fleet of the Royal Thai Navy sent a plane to join the search, while vessels boats were dispatched to look for the two missing tourists. The searches continued yesterday, but without success.
Yesterday, a speed boat, “Bandaya 19”, carrying over 73 tourists, capsized near Bubu Island, to the east of Adang Island off Satun province. All of the passengers and four crew members were rescued.
According to the Royal Thai Navy, the speed boat’s hull was fractured by strong waves, as it was heading toward Lanta Island in Krabi province, allowing water to enter quickly.
All passengers and crew were told to abandon the strickenvessel and were rescued by the navy.
On the same day, a fishing boat, “Sirawit Namchoke”, capsized in rough seas off Chang Island in Trat province. The skipper and his five crew went missing. A sea search was mounted, but was eventually suspended due to strong winds and rough seas.
Officials of the Noppharat Thara Mu Ko Phi-Phi National Park are flying red flags on beaches in Ao Nang sub-district in Krabi and on several islands to warn tourists not to swim in the sea. Tour boat operators were also told to exercise extreme caution and to have adequate life vests on board if they are taking tourists on island trips.
Two cruise ships, carrying more than 5,000 passengers, have reportedly cancelled plans to bring them ashore on Samui Island due to the rough seas, but ferry services between the mainland and the island continue to operate as usual, but were told reduce their loaded weight for safety reasons.
In Pattaya, marine officials have banned small vessels and speed boats from taking passengers to and from Lan Island. Only large vessels with sufficient life vests are allowed to set sail for the tourist island.
