Deep-sea divers join the search for a missing woman in Ratchaprapa reservoir

[webfact]

Deep-sea divers join the search for a missing woman in Ratchaprapa reservoir



SURAT THANI: -- Deep-sea divers from Trang, Phuket and Nakhon Si Thammarat have been mobilized to help in the search for two people who went missing and believed drowned in the Ratchaprapa reservoir in Surat Thani.

Day-long search for Mr Prakit Saisema, a diver, and a fisherman, Mrs Prachob Tadum, on Monday by divers failed to locate the two missing people whose bodies were believed to be trapped in the bottom of the reservoir which is about 100 metres deep. The search was called off at sunset.

Surat Thani governor Wongsiri Promchana said Monday that deep-sea divers would help in the search today. Moreover, eight jet skies also joined in the search at various islets in the huge reservoir where the two bodies might have been trapped.

One of the divers, Mr Alha Uztas, said that the underwater search at the depth of about 50 metres was very difficult and dangerous because it was dark and the under currents were unpredictable. Also, there are many underwater tree stumps.

Mrs Prachob went missing after her small boat collided with a tourist boat while Mr Prakit, the diver, went missing when a rope with which he used to go under the water in the search of the former snapped.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/161083


-- Thai PBS 2016-04-26

[samuijimmy]

I have removed all the bickering comments made so far...

There was no mention of foreigners being used, so the talk about work permits and on going discussion ... were not relevant.

[dabhand]

Sad story.

Reminds me of a similar situation on a hydro project in Northern Malaysia back in the 90's. A diving team were working on a pipeline at the bottom of the reservoir. There was one diver at the bottom and another kitted up in the boat waiting to take over. A huge bubble of air escaped from the pipeline and the boat capsized. The diver, unconnected to his airline, fell into the water and unfortunately drowned due to the heavy gear he was wearing.

The local villagers expressed some concern over the incident which was only partially relieved when the body was eventually found. Spirits were a major reason for the concern and that would likely also feature in this unfortunate case.