SURAT THANI: A man is missing after his fishing boat which developed engine trouble was hit by another fishing boat at the Ratchaprapha dam in Ban Ta Khun district before dawn on Saturday.
Police and a rescue team rushed to the dam in tambon Khao Pang to search for the missing man, said Pol Capt Somsak Ritthikun, deputy investigation chief at Ban Ta Khun police station, who was alerted at 6am.
A police investigation found that the missing man, Somchai Chana, 49, driver of a small fishing boat, and Banphot Sathit, 65, driver of the other small boat involved in the crash, had gone out to catch fish north of the dam at around 5am.
On the way back, Mr Somchai’s boat developed engine trouble about 2km from the pier. Mr Banphot, who was driving behind, rear-ended Mr Somchai’s boat. The force of the crash caused Mr Somchai to fall into the water. The rear of his boat was damaged, with its engine falling into the water.
Mr Banphot also fell from his boat but managed to swim back safely ashore. The two small long-tailed boats were also brought back to the shore but Mr Somchai went missing.
Rescue workers and officials from the Khao Sok National Park were deployed to help with the search. A coordination centre was also set up to help look for the missing victim at the spot, where the water was about 30-60m deep.
Surat Thani governor Witchawut Jinto called off the search at 5pm after eight hours. As the water was cold and the weather unfavourable, the diving had to be delayed for fear of a possible loss of life, he said.
He cited as an example an operation in the past where a diver had drowned looking for a missing victim in a boat crash at the dam during unfavourable weather.
The Ratchaprapha dam, formerly known as Chiao Lan dam, was built in 1982 under the supervision of Khao Sok National Park and the Provincial Electricity Authority to provide hydroelectricity to Surat Thani city and other nearby towns. Its reservoir is a popular attraction in this southern province.
Rescuers retrieve a small fishing vessel involved in a crash at the Ratchaprapha dam in Surat Thani to the shore. (Photo by Supapong Chaolan)