Sukhothai Riverbank Collapse Claims One Life, Search Continues for Missing Child

[Georgealbert]

 

 

An  incident occurred at approximately 15.00 on October 8, when a section of the Yom Riverbank in Klong Krajong Subdistrict, Sukhothai Province, collapsed, causing a house to be swept into the river. Three people were trapped under the debris. While one person was rescued, a 10-year-old girl remains missing.

 

The collapse, which took place near a family home, resulted in three residents being buried under mud and debris. Emergency teams from various agencies, including Sawankhalok civil volunteers, Bang Kaeo Sukhothai Rescue Unit, Ruamkatanyu Foundation, and Thepnimit Rescue Team, worked to locate the victims.

 

 

At 19.00 rescue workers successfully pulled Mr. Pitak Khemthong, 45, from the rubble. He was found buried in the mud, suffering from hypothermia. Although conscious, he required continuous oxygen support and was immediately rushed to Sawankhalok Hospital for further treatment.

 

Sadly, the rescue operation also recovered the body of 52-year-old Mr. Rachen Kamthong, who was found lying beside Mr. Pitak, pinned down by wooden beams.

 

However, the search for the missing 10-year-old girl, identified as Chutima Kamthong, has yet to yield results. Darkness and safety concerns forced authorities to halt the search as power had been cut off in the area.

 

Suwankhalok District Senior Officer Papon Sorntham held a meeting with rescue teams to plan the resumption of the search for Chutima in the morning of October 9.

 

Rescue worker Atthaya Nakanrit from Thepnimit Rescue shared that digging through the thick mud is extremely challenging, with hands being the only viable tool for excavation in the unstable soil.

 

Homeowner Panumas Bamnet, 33, described the moment the house suddenly collapsed into the river while the family was packing up their belongings. Despite the chaos, rescuers managed to save the family’s dog, which was later returned to relatives for care.

 

The search and rescue operation will continue as teams remain hopeful of locating the missing girl body..

 

Picture from responders. Mobile footage below captured the collapse.

 

 

-- 2024-10-09

 

 

 

 

[hotchilli]

Sad thing to see, but the house must have been very close to edge of the river to suddenly collapse like that with no warning?

Or where they taking too long to evacuate?