On the night of August 2nd at approximately 10 pm, a ferry transporter named the “King Ferry” was transporting garbage trucks and 16 people capsized between Ko Si and Ko Ha, Ko Samui District, Surat Thani Province. A crew of 9 people and 7 passengers were onboard during a storm which generated strong waves and high winds, a normal occurrence during monsoon season.
But, despite earlier advisories and alerts of floods, and storms on the way, the captain of this ferry boat decided to take his chances and make his way to Don Sak pier on the Surat Thani mainland.
Mr. Vitchawut Jinto, governor of Surat Thani Province set up a search and rescue center for the missing persons at the Samui Boat Station.
Together with boats patrolling the coast within 5 nautical miles and 3 helicopters in the sky, they continued their search.
PHOTO: Sunthorn Pongpao
At 12.00 hrs, 2 survivors were found: Mr. Phacharathirat Kalaalee and Mr. Suwit Nakornsrathawachai, the staff of waste transportation company. They were both found floating away with the strong current about 4 nautical miles from the capsized boat.
Later, at 13.30 after searching throughout the night and into the early morning, search and rescue spotted two men from helicopters, both were dead. One was a salesman for the Raja Ferry company and the other was the skipper, neither was wearing a lifejacket.
11 people were rescued, 3 people remain missing while weather conditions are expected to get worse.
