PUBLISHED : 14 Aug 2023 at 04:30
PHETCHABURI: One tourist drowned and another remains missing after a tour boat was hit by a waterspout and sank in the middle of Bang Ta Boon Bay off Ban Laem district on Saturday afternoon.
The incident involving a cloud phenomenon that looks like a small tornado, complete with spiralling funnel, was reported to the 191 police emergency centre about 5pm.
Sampan Jinping, 63, the boat operator, said he was hired by a group of seven tourists to cruise along Bang Ta Boon Bay for sightseeing.
While the boat was heading back to the shore, about 2 kilometres from the mainland, a waterspout suddenly stuck the boat. The vessel sank and the seven passengers were swept into the water by the impact.
None of the tourists were wearing life jackets, he said.
He and a rescue unit from the Sawang Sanphet Thammasatan Foundation managed to pluck five of the group to safety but not their two friends.
At 10am yesterday, the body of Chanin Chompinthong, 25 was found 50km from the shore while Kritsanat Kampanya, 27, is still missing. The search for Mr Kritsanat continues.