3 Thais survive, 2 still missing after boat capsizes in Mekong River
A boat carrying five Thai men capsized in the Mekong River in the northern province of Chiang Rai yesterday, leaving two people missing. The other three victims survived and were rescued from the river by a local rescue team.
Chiang Khong District Chief Udom Pokpongborwonkun coordinated with the Royal Thai Navy (RTN), Siam Ruam Jai Rescue Foundation, and Saeng Dhammastan Rescue team after being alerted to the boat accident in the Mekong River at around 4am yesterday, September 5.
Upon arriving at the scene, rescuers found three victims floating in the river and immediately retrieved them from the water, transferring them to a hospital for a health check. The survivors informed officers that two others had disappeared following the accident.
The survivors are identified as 29 year old Thanawat Khamwisate, 36 year old Boonyart Lerttrakun, and 29 year old Samrit Buppha. The missing individuals are named as 29 year old Nattawat Phichai and 29 year old Autsawanai Sompanwang.
After rescuing the three survivors, the rescue team continued searching for the two missing individuals throughout yesterday afternoon. However, the operation encountered multiple difficulties and dangers.
ThaiRath reported that locals refer to the accident site as the “1,000 Deaths Curve,” due to the frequent discovery of drowned bodies of both people and animals in the area.
The scene of the accident is a sharp bend in the river, with numerous rocks below the surface. The water is deep, the current is strong, and whirlpools are common.
Just days before this accident, a boat carrying more than 40 Burmese nationals capsized in the Mekong River in the Laos area. More than 30 victims went missing, with only 10 survivors. These Burmese nationals were believed to have worked in Laos before being deported for lack of work permits and necessary documents.
Thai officials told MGR Online that Myanmar and Laos officials have not yet requested assistance from Thailand in the search for the missing individuals.
