5 tourists die, boat owner charged
Police have pressed a charge of recklessness causing the death and injury of others against the owner of a speedboat that capsized Wednesday evening while taking visitors to snorkel around islands in Chumphon Bay.
Five Thai tourists drowned in the incident and their bodies were sent on Thursday for autopsies at Pak Nam Hospital in Chumphon.
Encountering high waves and strong winds, the engine of the 15-metre-long Chok Thara 2 speedboat broke down, and the boat sank near Koh Ngam and Koh Kalok at around 7pm. Authorities were alerted at 9pm. Eight tourists and three crewmembers were rescued and five tourists were initially reported missing.
Chumphon Governor Narong Polla-iad said on Thursday morning that rescuers found four women and one man trapped in the boat and their bodies were taken out at 3am. They were scuba diving instructor Mahatsana Kanchanapakorn and four female diving students Teeratchaya Methamongkolthip, 32, Chan Thabchan, 41, Thapanee Worawattanakul, 52, and Sumanna Suthanurak, 33.
Chumphon police chief Pol Maj-General Sonthichai Awatanakulthep said an initial probe found that the boat’s engine malfunctioned. The boat owner called a larger ship named Thapana to tow it back to shore, but the boat sank and capsized quickly. Police had interviewed 10 witnesses who said the boat sank so fast that many on-board had to swim to the towing boat.
Sonthichai said the speedboat had an engine problem on Tuesday but was quickly repaired to take visitors out on Wednesday. This time a breakdown had fatal consequences.
Sonthichai said the boat owner and the boat driver were brought into custody to initially face a charge of recklessness causing death and injury to others.
The sunken boat had not been retrieved as of press time due to strong winds/waves. Police would check on the boat’s condition after retrieval and as well as its tour-boat licence, added Sonthichai.
