Tourists Safe After Going Missing In Tham Nam Thalu cave

[steven100]

25 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Cave exploring in rainy flood season. Darwinism at its best

it's more fun to go bar exploring

[Kwausie]

41 minutes ago, retayl said:

Yet more tourists who deposited their brain at the airport on arrival.

Very unfair, I am sure a lot of them would be unaware of the dangers and put their faith in tour company.

[Captain Flack]

Some off topic bickering posts about incorrect grammar use have been removed. Please discuss the topic, not try to derail the topic with unhelpful comments.

[zepplin]

So absolutely typical here, there isn’t 1 single rule in this co that people don’t break!

the headline could have so easily have been 22 tourists killed by imbecile illegal tour guides!
All for a few bht, because they have absolutely no idea how to save for a rainy day…. 

[retayl]

1 hour ago, Kwausie said:

Very unfair, I am sure a lot of them would be unaware of the dangers and put their faith in tour company.

If they put their faith in a Thai tour company they must have deposited their brains at the airport.

[Sydebolle]

Well, history in the repeating mode; last time in the North, this time in the South - keep up the good work and all tourists will be scared away from anything cave-like. Pure management mistake by cave operators and tour company. 

But yes, it is the tourists fault; if they would not have gone into the cave, the incident would have never happened - back to Square One! 

[snoop1130]

Tour Company Faces Legal Action for Cave Incident

 

 

Surat Thani (NNT) - Surat Thani Governor Jessada Jitrat has mandated legal action against a tour company that led a group into the closed Nam Talu Cave within Khao Sok National Park, resulting in a tragic flash flood that killed a 37-year-old guide. The incident, which involved two guides and 22 foreign tourists, unfolded as they were exiting the cave, which is situated in the Ratchaprapa Dam reservoir area.

Following the ordeal, the tourists briefly met with Governor Jessada and other officials at the Chiew Lan Subdistrict Municipality Tourist Pier before spending the night at the park's Krai Sorn Raft House.

The incident mirrors a similar catastrophe that occurred in the same location a decade ago. Nam Talu Cave was under an official closure, part of a seasonal shutdown spanning from June 1 to November 30 to protect natural resources and ensure public safety. Park authorities said that the tour company violated this closure order by accessing the cave, which is designated solely for trekking.

According to Jessada, immediate steps are to be taken to enforce park closures more stringently to prevent such incidents in the future, ensure adherence to safety protocols, and safeguard natural resources.

 

By Krajangwit Johjit

Photo: NNT

 

Source: NNT 2024-08-07

 

-  Cigna offers a variety of health insurance plans designed to meet the minimum requirement for medical treatment coverage, with benefits reaching up to THB 3 million. These plans are tailored to provide comprehensive healthcare solutions for expatriates, ensuring peace of mind and access to quality medical services. To explore the full range of Cigna's expat health insurance options and find a plan that suits your needs, click here for more information.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

[Celsius]

2 hours ago, steven100 said:

it's more fun to go bar exploring

 

The Cave Hub

[harryviking]

So, the nearly fatal incident in Thai caves a few years ago has been forgotten already?? When will people learn that the rainy season is NOT the time to visit caves?????

[steven100]

9 minutes ago, harryviking said:

So, the nearly fatal incident in Thai caves a few years ago has been forgotten already?? When will people learn that the rainy season is NOT the time to visit caves?????

 

they need some media exposure and the movie and tourists will see and come

[Bday Prang]

6 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

As we all know from past history, these caves are subject to flash flooding and they are the last place in the world you want to venture during rainy season, especially in a province is wet as Surat Thani. Sorry to hear about the guide, but the tourists should consider themselves very fortunate that they escaped with their lives. 

This is due in part to the epidemic of "health and safetyitis" that has infected the west.   Legislation and regulation are now the main factors influencing peoples behaviour.  Common sense is pretty much a thing of the past, and acting upon it is not really encouraged anymore.

Fine whilst  people remain in their highly regulated countries and their lives are micro  managed by the authorities

        Not so fine though,  when these people travel to a more "natural" environment, were they are not permanently protected by rules and regulations.

As they have no common sense to fall back on.       Caving, ? underground?  In Thailand? In the  Rainy season?   What could possibly go wrong?

Did none of the tourists think like  that ? Probably not they just trusted the guide, because that's what one does "back home"  

It makes me think of a family's pet rabbit being let loose in the jungle

[Bday Prang]

9 hours ago, steven100 said:

That doesn't look like your usual tipple, are you "drying out"?       Or are you on penicillin ?  (been a naughty boy?) 

[cookie1974]

Amazing how people want to go down these caves during rainy season, do they have a deathwish or are they just plain stupid?

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The incident mirrors a similar catastrophe that occurred in the same location a decade ago. Nam Talu Cave was under an official closure, part of a seasonal shutdown spanning from June 1 to November 30 to protect natural resources and ensure public safety. Park authorities said that the tour company violated this closure order by accessing the cave, which is designated solely for trekking

Safety last Thailand.

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, cookie1974 said:

Amazing how people want to go down these caves during rainy season, do they have a deathwish or are they just plain stupid?

Yes and yes

[Muhendis]

1 hour ago, cookie1974 said:

Amazing how people want to go down these caves during rainy season, do they have a deathwish or are they just plain stupid?

The answer to that question is "neither".

The tourists trusted their guide who has an intimate understanding of caves and rainy seasons.

[cookie1974]

1 hour ago, Muhendis said:

The answer to that question is "neither".

The tourists trusted their guide who has an intimate understanding of caves and rainy seasons.

Yes and the guide died and the rest were lucky to get out with their lives so neither doesnt really apply does it.

[Gandtee]

1 hour ago, Muhendis said:

The answer to that question is "neither".

The tourists trusted their guide who has an intimate understanding of caves and rainy seasons.

Misplaced trust.😔

[newnative]

Throw the book at the tour company.  It could have easily resulted in more than one dead.

[Peterphuket]

It is not so strange that tourists have no notion of this, above all, it is understandable that they rely on the guide, there is nothing wrong with that.
It is the guide who is not worthy of the profession, but yes TIT anyone can call themselves a guide, there are not many professions in Thailand that are protected and knowledge based, unfortunately.

Actually, it is not worth the mention, after all anyone who has been here longer knows how things can get, but for the tourist it is a different story, another non-positive experience with LOS.

[Tubulat]

Will never forget one of the first times I was on holiday in Thailand and especially to Phuket some 30 years ago.
There, too, we went into the jungle with a guide in the middle of the island.
And you'll never guess, he too lost his way and we got lost with a group of about 20 people, as a tourist in your shirt and short sleeves into the jungle....

It took more than 2 hours to find the right path again, apparently including someone pretending to be a guide, heavily sweaty we regained our freedom.

[nakhonandy]

One thing the Internet has given us is the ability to research things.

How difficult would it be to google whether doing a cave tour in the rainy season was dangerous or not?

People leave their brains at home when they go on holiday.

[PETERTHEEATER]

A reminder that the cave had been officially declared closed to the public due to potential flooding during the rainy season,

The deceased tour guide was illegal.

The guide, probably with the knowledge of the tour company illegally led the group into the cave.

Hence legal action against the tour company.

[jcmj]

Sure hope no one is planning on an insurance claim. 

[Kwausie]

 Very unfair blaming tourists, go to New Zealand and bungy jump or white water rafting you trust the guide, maybe some of these guys first time in Thailand , it’s alright for us old timers who read about this stuff every day!