Tourist boat capsizes off Koh Phangan, Korean national missing

[webfact]

 
Picture courtesy of KhaoSod

 

by Bright Choomanee

A long-tail boat carrying passengers from Koh Phangan capsized after being struck by massive waves, leaving 13 passengers adrift in the sea and one Korean national missing. The incident, which occurred today, December 29, has raised serious concerns about safety regulations, as it was revealed that the boat’s captain was under the influence of drugs, and none of the passengers were wearing life jackets.

 

The local police station on Koh Phangan received an emergency call about the capsized long-tail boat at Haad Rin Nok Bay. The boat was carrying a total of 13 people, including 10 passengers and three crew members.

 

Upon receiving the report, the officials, led by Panya Nirattimanon, coordinated rescue efforts involving multiple local agencies, including the Koh Phangan Subdistrict Municipality and the Koh Phangan Regional Harbour Office.

 

At the scene, the capsized boat was found floating near Haad Rin Bay. Officials managed to rescue all but one of the passengers. Those rescued included nationals from Turkey, the Netherlands, Japan, and Germany, alongside several Thai nationals.

The missing individual, identified as Hyunjin from Korea, was reportedly planning to open a Japanese restaurant with his Japanese partner, Miyuki Murata, who was among the survivors.

  

“The group of passengers were friends who had hired the long-tail boat to take them to Haad Yuan,” Nirattimanon explained. “The boat had barely travelled 50 meters from the shore when it was hit by large waves. It managed to navigate through three waves, but the fourth wave caused the boat to lose stability and capsize. Unfortunately, none of the passengers were wearing life jackets.”

 

 

Boat capsized

 

Further investigations revealed that the boat’s captain, Patthanapong Saetiew, tested positive for methamphetamine. He has been charged with the use of a category 1 narcotic drug. Additionally, regulatory checks by the Koh Phangan Regional Harbour Office discovered that the boat, named Phichitchai, was improperly registered and not compliant with safety standards.

 

The boat was a type of motorised vessel specifically designed for local sea navigation, capable of carrying up to fifteen passengers.

 

Source: The Thaiger 

-- 2024-12-30

 

 

[newbee2022]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

 
Picture courtesy of KhaoSod

 

by Bright Choomanee

A long-tail boat carrying passengers from Koh Phangan capsized after being struck by massive waves, leaving 13 passengers adrift in the sea and one Korean national missing. The incident, which occurred today, December 29, has raised serious concerns about safety regulations, as it was revealed that the boat’s captain was under the influence of drugs, and none of the passengers were wearing life jackets.

 

The local police station on Koh Phangan received an emergency call about the capsized long-tail boat at Haad Rin Nok Bay. The boat was carrying a total of 13 people, including 10 passengers and three crew members.

 

Upon receiving the report, the officials, led by Panya Nirattimanon, coordinated rescue efforts involving multiple local agencies, including the Koh Phangan Subdistrict Municipality and the Koh Phangan Regional Harbour Office.

 

At the scene, the capsized boat was found floating near Haad Rin Bay. Officials managed to rescue all but one of the passengers. Those rescued included nationals from Turkey, the Netherlands, Japan, and Germany, alongside several Thai nationals.

The missing individual, identified as Hyunjin from Korea, was reportedly planning to open a Japanese restaurant with his Japanese partner, Miyuki Murata, who was among the survivors.

 

  

“The group of passengers were friends who had hired the long-tail boat to take them to Haad Yuan,” Nirattimanon explained. “The boat had barely travelled 50 meters from the shore when it was hit by large waves. It managed to navigate through three waves, but the fourth wave caused the boat to lose stability and capsize. Unfortunately, none of the passengers were wearing life jackets.”

 

 

Boat capsized

 

Further investigations revealed that the boat’s captain, Patthanapong Saetiew, tested positive for methamphetamine. He has been charged with the use of a category 1 narcotic drug. Additionally, regulatory checks by the Koh Phangan Regional Harbour Office discovered that the boat, named Phichitchai, was improperly registered and not compliant with safety standards.

 

The boat was a type of motorised vessel specifically designed for local sea navigation, capable of carrying up to fifteen passengers.

 

Source: The Thaiger 

-- 2024-12-30

 

 

The meteorologists gave a warning 2 days before. However, if the "captain" is stoned and tourists follow him like lemmings then fatal accidents could happen

[Tropicalevo]

24 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

The meteorologists gave a warning 2 days before. However, if the "captain" is stoned and tourists follow him like lemmings then fatal accidents could happen

Not sure about the 'tourists follow him like lemmings' bit.

Many bays on KPN do not have road access and travelling by boat is more of a taxi service and the main means of transport.

I have done it a number of times.

However, the 'captain' was well out of order.

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

At the scene, the capsized boat was found floating near Haad Rin Bay. Officials managed to rescue all but one of the passengers. Those rescued included nationals from Turkey, the Netherlands, Japan, and Germany, alongside several Thai nationals.

All who will remember their trip for a long time... maybe one won't

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Further investigations revealed that the boat’s captain, Patthanapong Saetiew, tested positive for methamphetamine. He has been charged with the use of a category 1 narcotic drug. Additionally, regulatory checks by the Koh Phangan Regional Harbour Office discovered that the boat, named Phichitchai, was improperly registered and not compliant with safety standards.

But operating

[crazykopite]

On 12/30/2024 at 12:31 PM, newbee2022 said:

The meteorologists gave a warning 2 days before. However, if the "captain" is stoned and tourists follow him like lemmings then fatal accidents could happen

That’s a bit unfair to the tourists if the captain is off his head they don’t know thankfully they were only 50 metre from the shoreline any further they would all be dead or missing