Tragic Accident: Teen Drowns in Chaiyaphum Weir Incident

Picture courtesy of KhaoSod

In a heart-wrenching event on 29th May, a 13-year-old girl tragically lost her life after falling into a weir in Chaiyaphum province and being swept away by swift currents. The incident took place at a village weir in Baan Nong Bua Noi, Kaset Sombun district, prompting a swift response from local police and rescue teams.

Police from Ban Duea station collaborated with divers from Luang Siri Rescue and Mangorn Rescue from Nong Bua Daeng district in the search. A significant number of local residents also convened at the scene to assist efforts to find the girl, while her three school friends stood nearby, visibly shocked and distressed.

Rescue teams scoured the weir for approximately 30 minutes before finding the young girl’s body submerged beneath the water. She was dressed in her school uniform from a well-known local secondary school, underscoring the youthful innocence lost in the tragedy.

Initial reports indicate that the accident occurred when four friends ventured onto the weir for a walk. The victim allegedly slipped on algae-covered surfaces, losing her footing and plunging into the overflowing weir. The strong currents quickly pulled her under, while her friends could only watch in despair as she disappeared into the water.

Following the recovery, the girl's body was sent to police authorities to coordinate an autopsy with doctors from Kaset Sombun Hospital. This procedure aims to confirm the cause of death and assist in the ongoing investigation being conducted by police under formal legal protocols.

As the community grapples with this sudden loss, the girl’s family is preparing to receive her body for religious rites, offering them a chance to mourn and honour her beloved memory in line with their traditions. Such incidents are a sombre reminder of the hidden dangers that natural settings like weirs can pose, particularly during times of high water flow.

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-05-30