The speedboat ‘Apirak 89’ was returning from Phi Phi Island with seven Russian nationals on board, reported the Phuket Marine Office.
The boat stopped at Koh Maithon, then slammed into rocks on the east side of the island at about 3:30pm on its return journey to Chalong Pier.
Koh Maithon is a popular small island located just over eight kilometres southeast of the tip of Cape Panwa,
The ‘Apirak 89’ is a dual-engine fiberglass speedboat, three metres wide and 11 metres long. The captain of the boat, Natthaphong Kongwilai, and helmsman Preecha Soison, were on board, officials confirmed.
Two speedboats were dispatched to render assistance and bring all nine on the ‘Apirak 89’ back to Chalong Pier, where emergency responders were waiting for them.
According to officials, three injured were taken each to Dibuk Hospital, Vachira Phuket Hospital and Chalong Hospital.
The 5-year-old Russian girl named by officials as Liza Pak, remained unconscious, and was later pronounced dead at Chalong Hospital.
The girl’s grandmother, named only as ‘Mrs Emma’ suffered pain in her right arm. She received treatment and was discharged from care.
One of the Russians, named by officials as ‘Mr Pak Petr’, suffered serious injuries and remains classified as a ‘red’ patient. He is in care at Dibuk Hospital.
Capt Natthaphong, 41, remains unconscious and intubated at Vachira Phuket Hospital. He suffered a large laceration on the left side of his face.
The remaining five injured were classified as either ‘green’ or ‘yellow’ patients, officials reported last night
Marine officials had inspected the boat and believe it was departing Koh Maithon and heading in southerly direction when it crashed into the rocks, said an official report of the incident.
The boat remained jammed against the rocks. The hull had sustained obvious damage, but no oil leaks were found on the water. The boat was correctly licenced, officials noted.
Leading Phuket officials, Tourist Police, including Pol Lt Col Ekachai Siri, and officers from the Tourist Assistance Center (TAC) arrived at Vachira Phuket Hospital yesterday evening to provide support and assistance to the injured and their families.
SAFETY ON SHOW
Earlier yesterday morning, Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat led an all-star cast of leading Phuket officials for an inspection of Chalong Pier to assure that all safety measures were being adhered to as part of the currently ongoing ‘Seven Days’ safety campaign for the New Year.
For decades the annual campaign had been called the ‘Seven Days of Danger’. This year it was rebranded to ‘Seven Days of Family Happiness’.
Joining Governor Sophon for his inspection visit yesterday morning were:
- Udomphon Kan, head of the Phuket Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office (DDPM-Puket)
- Natchapong Pranit, Chief of the Phuket Marine Office
- Rewat Areerob, President of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO), which operates Chalong Pier
- Thiwat Sidokbuab. PPAO Deputy Mayor
- Thanong Ongsaniphap, Deputy Mayor of Chalong
- Prasit Yotharak, Director of the PPAO’s Transportation Affairs Division
The aim of the visit was to “give encouragement to Chalong Pier staff and build confidence among tourists during the New Year festival of 2024”, said an official report of the inspection.
The report noted that it was “emphasised that safety measures be especially strict, ready to quickly provide assistance to tourists who encounter accidents at sea”.
The inspection was part of the standard visits by officials to assure tourists of the safety measures enforced during the ‘Seven Days’ campaign to help prevent and reduce accidents on the roads and on water during the New Year holidays.
A similar inspection of boats and boat operators was conducted at Ratsada Pier on Friday (Dec 29).
Chalong Pier is one of the key piers in Phuket under the "Phuket Smart Pier" smart pier system service has been launched, officials noted in a report posted last night.
“A document verification system has been created to identify the identities of passengers traveling on boats to increase safety standards, convenience and build confidence for Thai and foreign tourists who come to use the pier’s services,” the report noted.
The deadly collision into rocks yesterday followed 30 people being injured when a tour speedboat returning from Phi Phi Island slammed into a channel marker in Chalong Bay in May this year. The accident occurred only a few hundred metres the pier itself. (See story here.)
In February 2020, Marine Department Chief at the time Witthaya Yamuang ordered basic safety training for speedboat drivers after a tour speedboat collision in the channel leading to Royal Phuket Marina and Boat Lagoon killed two Russian children and injured more than a dozen more tourists. (See stories here and here.)
That training, however, was for speedboat drivers operating out of Royal Phuket Marina and Boat Lagoon only. (See story here.)
“Now they have learned to drive more safely while on the water,” Mr Wiwat said.
Additional reporting by Eakkapop Thongtub