Stories tagged with accidents
-
Songkran road toll soars
More than 200 people across Thailand have already lost their lives over the period from Friday through Monday during the Songkran festival.
This year’s water festival has already seen more people killed and injured on the roads than at the same point last year, with 229 dead and over 3,300 injured - around 5.5 per cent up on last year.
Petchabun province had the highest death toll with 11 dead so far, followed by Rayong, and Suphan Buri provinces.
The highest number of accidents was in Chiang Rai province, at 50, followed by Phetchabun province at 42.
Most accidents occurred on village roads and mainly at night with the great percentage of those being alcohol-fueled.
Although the powers-that-be were thinking of imposing a ban on the sale of alcohol over Songkran; in reality, people will just hoard beer and spirits before the event.
The Thai Red Cross has reported that it was running out of blood supplies and needs about 1,500 units of blood daily during this busy time, whereas it only received 973 units on April 12 and 950 units on April 13.
Blood goes to hospitals nationwide from the red cross’s blood banks.
Tourists taking part in the Songkran festivities are advised not to ride motorcycles and take public transport.
Posted by: Andrew on 15 Apr 2008, 17:11 -
Three die in ferry accident near Samut Prakan
A ferry overloaded with passengers in Pak Nam, in Samut Prakan province in Central Thailand sunk on Sunday afternoon, killing three people.
The ferry had a maximum load capacity of 15 passengers, however a total of 37 people were on board at the time of the accident. The boat hit a submerged telegraph pole and sunk at a location just 37 miles from Bangkok.
Local police reported that three missing passengers from the ferry were eventually found dead. All other passengers were rescued from the waters and provided with first aid and medical assistance, as required.
One of the drowned victims was an Indonesian woman. The identity of the other victims has not yet been released to the press.
Many of those on the boat were Thai students from Chulalongkorn University but rescue crews also saved Japanese, Bangladeshi and Indonesians from the waters following the accident.
"The captain tried to take the boat to the shore but the water leaked into the boat too quick, so it capsized before the boat reached the shore," said police official Lieutenant Colonel Somchai Suvanapot.
Posted by: Jen on 07 Nov 2007, 10:23 -
Six tourists die in flash flood in Surathani
A flash flood though a national park in southern Thailand has left six German tourists and their local guide dead. The group was swept away when water suddenly flooded through the cave where the group was exploring, according to local police.
Police Lt. Col. Pichan Kanayasiri said that the group was trekking in the Khao Sok national park which is located in Surathani province. On Saturday afternoon, the heavy rainfall caused a flash flood in the park which sent water coursing through the cave.
"The tourists were inside the cave and didn't know what was happening outside," Pichan said. "They were trapped inside the cave."
Pichan said that despite the efforts of rescue crews which worked all night to try and save the group, three woman, two men and a child are definitely dead. Another German man and a Thai guide are missing.
Last year, the same cave experienced a flash flood which killed a tourist from Belgium.
Hiking and trekking in the national park is a popular activity both for local outdoor lovers and visitors from abroad. The best time to visit in order to avoid monsoon rains is from December to April.
The park is easy to reach by car along highway route number 401, also known as the Suratthani-Takuapa road. The park is located just off the highway, near kilometer 109.
Posted by: Jen on 14 Oct 2007, 16:08