Minister goes missing off Phuket

PHUKET: -- A government vice-minister fell foul of the terrible weather conditions currently spoiling many a tourist’s Phuket vacation when the speedboat returning him from Koh Racha Yai to Phuket got lost in the rain yesterday.

Commerce Vice Minister Veerasak Jinarat’s boat set out at around noon.

Shortly afterwards the Immigration officer steering the boat reportedly became confused because of the driving rain and darkening sky.

After radioing Phuket Marine Police for help, the boat, which was carrying Mr Veerasak and eight other officials, eventually found its way to Chalong Bay pier at 12.40pm.

On their return, Mr Veerasak and the others looked weary – and more than a little sea sick.

-- Phuket Gazette 2009-08-29

Senior ministers and immigration officials and between them they don't think to check the weather forecast before going to sea in a small open boat. Twonks !!!!!!!!!!

Edited August 29, 200916 yr by Soupdragon

This could have been very embarassing if they had to be towed to shore by a boatload of Rohingyas!

Wow, an amazing half an hour lost at sea. No wonder they were exhausted.

Wow, an amazing half an hour lost at sea. No wonder they were exhausted.

Yes, but any longer and they would have resorted to eating each other.

If this were a boatload of tourists it had happened to I wonder if it would have also been the general opinion that it was the tourists fault for not checking the weather?