Accident Cambodian Worker Missing After Entering Wastewater Pipe to Catch Fish

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Daily News

 

A 35-year-old Cambodian construction worker remains missing after entering a municipal wastewater pipe in the Huai Talay area of Nakhon Ratchasima to fish. Local rescue teams launched an intensive search operation but were forced to suspend efforts due to rising water levels, prompting renewed safety warnings from local authorities.

 

The incident took place on the afternoon of 22 June, when Mr Chhean Ra, employed at a nearby construction site, entered the underground drainage system with a fellow worker, Mr Eng Nan, 23, also from Cambodia. The pair had reportedly fished in the area on previous occasions during their time off.

 

“We often come here to catch fish, it’s something we’ve done many times before,” said Mr Eng. “Mr Chhean went in first, and we agreed to meet up again in about 20 minutes. But when I came back and called for him, there was no answer. He never came out.”

 

The pipe, which forms part of the local wastewater treatment network at Bueng Hua Talay in Hua Talay subdistrict, is around one metre in diameter and stretches for several kilometres. Officials reported that standing water inside the pipe was normally approximately 50 centimetres deep, though this rose rapidly following heavy rainfall earlier in the day.

Rescue teams from the Sawang Metta Dhamma Foundation and Hua Talay Municipality launched a search shortly after receiving the alert. Divers entered the system to begin the operation. However, worsening conditions, including a strong current, poor visibility and limited air time, forced the team to suspend the search after more than four hours, citing safety concerns.

 

Mayor Ekaphop Tomornsak of Hua Talay Municipality confirmed that operations would resume as soon as conditions improved. “We are working closely with rescue teams and technical staff to map the pipe system, identify the shallowest access points and ensure the safety of those involved in the search,” he said.

 

The mayor also issued a stark warning to members of the public and the migrant worker community against entering drainage pipes or stormwater systems. “These pipes are extremely dangerous, especially during the rainy season. People underestimate the risks. This is not the first such incident and unless precautions are taken, it may not be the last.”

 

The municipality has now announced plans to seal off entry points to similar pipes throughout the area to prevent future accidents.

 

A renewed search for Mr Chhean, was scheduled to begin at 09:00 on 23 June, but due to weather safety concerns, was cancelled, as the incident is now considered a body recovery, rather than a rescue.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Daily News 2025-06-24