KRABI, Thailand – A dramatic rescue operation unfolded near the Phi Phi Islands as national park officials saved 28 tourists after their boat began leaking in the middle of the sea.
On March 10, Saengsuree Songthong, Chief of Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, received an urgent distress call from the owner of Sirivan Marine 5, a boat traveling from Koh Lipe, Satun, to Phuket. The vessel encountered rough waves, causing a hull breach near Koh Poda Nok in Ao Nang, Mueang District, Krabi.
Park officials stationed at Maya Bay immediately dispatched a patrol boat and the speedboat Nanthicha 333 to assist in the rescue. All 28 passengers, including both Thai and foreign tourists, were safely transferred onto a national park vessel and taken ashore at Loh Sama Pier, located behind Maya Bay. Another boat was arranged to transport the passengers to their final destination in Phuket.
According to Chief Saengsuree, the incident occurred around midday. Upon receiving the emergency call, the nearest officials were sent to the scene without delay. Preliminary reports indicate that the boat was en route from Satun to Phuket when it suffered a leak while passing by the Phi Phi Islands, necessitating immediate rescue efforts.
The national park authorities have reiterated their warning to boat operators to thoroughly inspect their vessels before departure to prevent similar accidents at sea. (TNA)
