Thailand tourist boat capsizes leaving 100 people 'trapped underwater'

[nanyang]

The ferry tipped over near the Wat Sanam Chai temple, a popular tourist destination in the city of Ayutthaya, about 50 miles north of Bangkok.

TV reporter @Thanakarn_BrightTV20 posted a video of the aftermath, showing dozens of rescue workers clambering over the stricken vessel as large crowds gathered on a nearby jetty.

He tweeted: "Urgent! Capsized near Wat Sanam Chai in Thailand approximately 100 people who have been lost underwater."

The death toll has risen from four to 10, while several more are still missing.

Rescue workers are continuing the search for survivors.

Initial reports from Thailand suggest a large group of Muslim tourists were celebrating the opening of a new mosque near the ancient Wat Sanam Chai, an active Buddhist temple on the banks of the Chao Phraya River.

They had just boarded the boat to leave when the vessel capsized in front of hundreds of fellow vistors stood on the pier.

It is not yet clear what caused the boat to capsize.

http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/711 ... underwater

[Khundon1975]

I think the latest is 10 dead now, maybe more yet to come.
So sad.

[buksida]

15 dead, 15 missing so far in Ayutthaya ferry tragedy
THE death toll of the capsized double-decker boat carrying more than 100 people in the Chao Phraya River north of Bangkok has risen to 15 with at least another 15 unaccounted for as of Monday morning, according to latest updates.

Another 44 people were injured from the accident, which occurred when the boat was involved in a collision Sunday afternoon.

According to The Nation, the boat was traversing in the Ayutthaya province at about 4pm when the accident occurred. The overcrowded vessel smashed into a pole in front of the Sanam Chai Temple after avoiding a collision with a large cargo boat, the news site reported.

https://asiancorrespondent.com/2016/09/ ... y-tragedy/

[HHTel]

Death toll rises to 20 with 11 still missing.

Driver's licence expired last year.

Boat licenced to carry 50 passengers. 100+ on board when it sank.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nationa ... 95727.html

[Gregjam]

Unfortunately all the time that there is a lack of enforcement of safety standards and failure of the general public to show any interest in their own safety there will continue to be loss of life. Be it overloading a ferry, tuk tuk, minivan or whatever there would have to be a major change in the approach to looking after personal safety and a particular persons responsibility to others.
I cannot help but feel that little will change. Life continues to be cheap.

[PET]

100 trapped - RUBBISH - but a terrible accident all due to accepting far more passengers than it was licensed.
I guess this will invalidate any insurance claim from the owners

[HHTel]

That means its accident insurance covers only 50 victims.

So which 50 are covered, if any?

[barrys]

That means its accident insurance covers only 50 victims.

So which 50 are covered, if any?

According to the Bangkok Post, the passenger insurance had already expired. Even it was valid, it only provides for 50k baht per pax. However, with no insurance, it would also mean that the vessel did not have a valid operating licence, either. This has to be renewed annually, following a safety inspection, together with the insurance. You can't get one without the other. Also, if the boat was only licensed for 50 pax, it obviously would not have had more life jackets than that.

[HHTel]

Death toll now 22.

Wirat told police that his boat had between 100 and 200 life vests but most passengers were not wearing one.

Why would they have that many life jackets. Seems they always intended to overload.

[oakdale160]

its the same old same old. there are rules and regulations but they are NOT ENFORCED. And if you are caught disobeying the laws there is no bad consequences.

[Spitfire]

I read in the BBK Post that the boat was built in 1967 and designed for 50 people. I think the driver ran away too......seems to be par-for-the-course here with any accident.

Such contempt for anything other than profit.

[HHTel]

27 dead.
The driver has been charged on four counts and remains in custody.

[Bristolian]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general ... be-details
Dept unveils boat tragedy probe details

River tourism in Ayutthaya takes a hit


The Marine Department will look into whether the embankment which the ill-fated ferry hit in Ayuttaya, resulting in the drowning of 28 passengers, was properly designed and built.

Department deputy director-general Nat Chabchai said officials have set up a panel to look into the boat tragedy in the Chao Phraya River.

Apart from the condition of the boat and the behaviour of the helmsman, the panel will investigate if construction of the concrete embankment was legally permitted, and whether it was properly designed and built.

The embankment is along the banks of the river at Wat Sanam Chai in Ayutthaya, where the boat tragedy occurred.

The embankment is three metres high and 32 metres long, with its base submerged one metre below the river, Mr Nat said.

The investigation would be concluded in 10 days, he said.

Witthaya Yamuang, director of the Marine Office 2 in Ayutthaya, said the size of the hole in the Sombat Mongkolchai Tabtim's hull clearly showed it hit a solid object underwater. It also testified to the helmsman's recklessness.

The double-decker boat was overloaded and accelerating to overtake a sand barge at a curve in the river, he said.

The helmsman was attempting to overtake on the right-hand side of the barge, where there was only a small clearance to the bank.

The waves pushed the boat hard towards the bank and the driver lost control, Mr Witthaya said.

The ferry hit the concrete embankment at Wat Sanam Chai in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya district. The rupture to the right side of the hull was 9.6 metres long, letting water into the boat.

The boat was licensed to carry 50 passengers but was actually carrying more than 150 Muslims who were returning home after attending an an annual religious ceremony at a local mosque in Ayutthaya province when it hit the embankment on Sunday afternoon.

Pol Col Thanasak Panyaem, deputy Ayutthaya police chief, said the damage to the boat was evidence of the recklessness of helmsman Wirach Chaisirikul.

Police have charged him with recklessness causing death and injuries, steering an overloaded boat, and having an expired boat licence.

Sunthorn Phansuethong, the boat owner, yesterday reported to investigators, but no charges have been laid against him yet, Pol Col Thanasak said.

He said police are questioning Mr Sunthorn and considering whether to bring charges.

Udomsak Khaonuna, an Ayutthaya disaster prevention and mitigation officer, said an initial sum of 38,000 baht will be given to each family of the dead victims.

Mr Sunthorn, the boat's owner, also gave 10,000 baht to each of the 28 families of the dead victims, Mr Udomsak said.

Tourist boats in Ayutthaya have been affected by Sunday's tourist boat capsize as passengers have cancelled their reservations, resulting in damages estimated at 1 million baht.

Thanakrit Kittithammakul, president of the Ayutthaya's Tourist Boat Club, yesterday revealed that members of the club which operate almost 30 tourist boats in the central province have been heavily affected by the tragedy, as it has put people off travelling on tourist craft.