A SOUTH Korean tourist is missing after big waves sank a long-tailed boat off Koh Phangan at around 3 a.m. this morning (Dec. 29) but fortunately the other nine tourists and three crew members were safely rescued, MNG Online said.
Koh Phangan’s police station was alerted at 3.10 a.m. that a long-tailed boat had capsized then sank off Haad Rin beach with a police team and Mr. Noppadol Khaomali, the tourist island’s district chief, quickly rushing there together with a Kusonsattha Foundation rescue unit.
When they arrived they found that local people and business owners on this beach as well as relevant agencies were already helping rescue the tourists.
Investigation revealed that the long-tailed boat, No. 38, was taking this group of both Thai and foreign tourists, who had been drinking at a restaurant on the beach, to Ao Haad Yuan at 3 a.m.
However after sailing just 40 metres from the beach the boat was hit by strong waves causing it to flip over and sink.
Kusonsattha Foundation rescue unit, along with Haad Rin Club business owners, police officers, Haad Rin Public Service Unit 12 rescued 12 of them as they were floating in the sea but the South Korean tourist remains missing.
They were identified as Mr. Mohammad Eren, Turkish national; Mr. Igor Hollen; Ms. Kanokporn Khun-at; Mr. Songyot Yotklang; Ms. Chuthamas Kaema; Ms. Miyuki Murata, Japanese national; Mr. Yutomo Tamura, Japanese national; Mr. Kantaphong Muangphet; Mr. Joseph Tobias, German national with the missing tourist being Mr. Hyun Jin. The three crew members were named as Mr. Chiramet Chukaew, Mr. Patthanapong Sae-tiew and Mr. Sittiphan Wongwai.
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Tourists being rescued after their long-tail boat sank off Koh Phangan. Photos: MNG Online
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