Insurance firms told to pay victims of speedboat explosion

Insurance firms told to pay victims of speedboat explosion

Black smoke billows from the King Poseidon 959 after an explosion believed caused by a fuel leak near Koh Phi Phi island in the Andaman coast province of Krabi on Sunday. (Photo: Krabi Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office)
Black smoke billows from the King Poseidon 959 after an explosion believed caused by a fuel leak near Koh Phi Phi island in the Andaman coast province of Krabi on Sunday. (Photo: Krabi Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office)

The Office of Insurance Commission has ordered two insurance firms to quickly pay the compensation due to 16 Chinese tourists injured in Sunday’s speedboat explosion off Phi Phi island.

OIC secretary-general SuthiphonThawveechaiyagarn said the speedboat, King Poseidon 959, was insured through Viriyah Insurance Co and Siam City Insurance.

Sixteen tourists were injured when the boat, carrying 26 Chinese visitors, including three children, exploded off Phi Phi island in Krabi on Sunday. Four Thai crew and a tour guide were also on board.

Mr Suthiphon said tour boat's policy with Viryah Insurance Co, valid from March 14 last year to March 14 this year, would provide 100,000 baht in compensation to each victim in case of death, loss of organs/eyesight or permanent disability. In case of other injuries, each victim was entitled to 15,000 baht for medical expenses.

The Siam City Insurance package, covering the period from Dec 28 last year to Dec 28 this year, would provide one million baht in compensation to each victim in case of death, loss of organs/eyesight or permanent disability. Each injured victim would be eligible for up to 500,000 baht medical expenses, he said.

The OIC chief expressed regret over the injuries to the victims. He warned all boat operators to insure their vessels as required by law, and to regularly check the expiry dates of their insurance packages.


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