KOH PHAGNAN — A search operation continues for a Korean tourist who went missing after a longtail boat capsized off the coast of Koh Phangan, Thailand early Sunday morning at 3:00 a.m. The incident involved 13 people aboard the vessel.
Commander Nattapon Sinpoolpon, Deputy Director of the Maritime Enforcement Command Center in Surat Thani, reported that the boat, named “Pichitchai,” was carrying 10 passengers and 3 Thai crew members when the accident occurred. The passengers included 4 Thai nationals, 2 Japanese tourists, and one each from Turkey, Netherlands, Germany, and Korea.
According to investigators, the boat was headed to Yuan Beach when it encountered rough seas approximately 400 meters from shore. Three waves, reaching heights of 2-3 meters, struck the vessel’s starboard bow, causing passengers to move to the left side. As the boat began listing to port, a fourth wave hit, flooding the vessel and causing it to capsize, throwing all passengers into the water.
None of the passengers were wearing life jackets at the time of the incident. While most passengers managed to stay afloat and were rescued by the Maritime Enforcement Command Center Region 2’s vessel T.266, Korean passenger Hyunjin remains missing.
Police Colonel Panya Nirattimanon, Superintendent of Koh Phangan Police Station, revealed that the boat operator, Pattanapong, was found to be operating with an expired first-class marine engine operator’s license, which had lapsed since June 13, 2023, though his first-class helmsman’s certificate remains valid until August 29, 2027. He faces charges of negligence and violation of maritime safety regulations.
Further investigation revealed that Pattanapong tested positive for methamphetamine, resulting in additional drug-related charges.
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