Vehicle swept into waterfall in Nakhon Si Thammarat rains
Amid incessant rainfall in Nakhon Si Thammarat, a vehicle was swept away by a powerful stream of water, causing a young interior decorator to plunge into a waterfall. The incident occurred around 10am today at a flooded water gate between Moo 6 and Moo 1, Thon Hong Subdistrict, Phrom Khiri District. This resulted from the continuous rain that began yesterday afternoon and shows no signs of stopping.
The pick-up truck belonging to the interior decorator was crossing a waterway en route to a customer’s job site in Wang Lung Village, Thon Hong Subdistrict. As the vehicle drove on a flooded road, a violent water stream swept it away, preventing any reverse or acceleration.
The vehicle was subsequently swept into Lung’s waterfall. Fortunately, both the driver and the passenger managed to escape from the vehicle and asked residents for help. They informed rescue officers to save the vehicle stuck in the violent water stream.
Later, the investigation officer from Phrom Khiri Police Station and rescue officers, along with a crane, arrived at the scene to help. They quickly tied ropes and steel slings to secure the vehicle to prevent it from being swept away by the water current. Afterwards, they used a hook to slowly pull it up from the continuous water stream with great difficulty.
The driver of the vehicle involved in the incident, 25 year old Saran, a roaming contractor, explained that before the accident, he was driving to work. The water was not high enough to prevent the vehicle from passing. However, once on the road, a surge of water hit the left side of the vehicle, making it uncontrollable.
The water current then dragged the vehicle into the waterfall, and the water level started to rise. Still conscious, he quickly escaped from the vehicle with another worker and safely reached the shore. All tools in the back of the vehicle were likely swept away by the water current.
Upon investigating the scene, officers found that the water stream originated from Song Rak Waterfall, or Wang Long Waterfall, a famous waterfall in Phrom Khiri. The water was continuously flowing, and it was determined that the victim was not trapped in any dangerous situation.
The rescue officers provided assistance and advised the victim to contact the insurance company for further compensation procedures, reported Sanook.
