Krabi sea drama as a huge wave capsizes a longtail boat carrying 10 Indian tourists, their guide and captain. All 12 are rescued, six suffer injuries and three need hospital care. Off Phuket, five more drift at sea without life jackets.
Seventeen people escaped two marine emergencies off southern Thailand as rough seas battered small boats over the weekend. A huge wave capsized a Krabi longtail carrying 10 Indian tourists, their guide and captain, leaving six injured. A passing speedboat rescued all 12, with three later taken to hospital. Meanwhile, off Phuket, five more people were rescued after engine failure left their longtail fishing boat drifting in rough seas. None had life jackets.
A holiday boat trip turned into a sea rescue off Krabi after a huge wave capsized a longtail boat. Ten Indian tourists, their guide and captain were aboard when the vessel overturned on Saturday, August 15. All 12 escaped alive after another tour boat spotted the group and raced to their aid. However, six suffered minor injuries and three tourists required hospital treatment.
The longtail boat had departed Ao Nang Beach and was heading towards Hong Island. The popular tourist journey took the group into waters near Laem Hang Nak. There, initial information showed that a large wave struck the vessel and caused it to capsize. The boat overturned and remained partially submerged at sea.
In response, Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park launched an emergency operation after receiving a report. A patrol boat was dispatched towards waters near Nong Thale subdistrict in Krabi’s Mueang district. However, another tour vessel had already spotted the group and reached them first.
Sayang Tour speedboat rescues all 12 aboard after longtail boat capsizes in rough seas off Krabi
A passing speedboat operated by Sayang Tour became the group’s immediate lifeline. Its crew spotted the people following the capsize and moved in to rescue them. Notably, every person aboard the stricken longtail boat was recovered. The speedboat then carried all 12 survivors to Khlong Muang Beach.
Meanwhile, the national park patrol continued towards the reported accident location. Officials arrived to find the longtail boat overturned and partly underwater. By that stage, nobody remained with the stricken vessel. The Indian tourists, their guide and captain were already heading safely towards shore.
Back at Khlong Muang Beach, emergency teams moved in to assess the survivors. Six people had suffered minor injuries during the capsize and rescue. Three tourists required further medical treatment and were subsequently transferred to hospital. No deaths were reported.
As part of the response, several agencies assisted the group after its return to land. National park officials joined the emergency operation at Khlong Muang Beach. The Nong Thale Subdistrict Administrative Organisation emergency medical team also attended. Additionally, personnel from the Krabi Pitak Pracha Foundation helped the rescued tourists and crew.
Initial information placed the capsize near Laem Hang Nak during the journey towards Hong Island. A large wave hit the longtail boat before the vessel overturned. Consequently, 12 people were suddenly left requiring rescue at sea. Another tour boat passing through the area then spotted them.
All 10 Indian tourists, their guide and captain survive as officials warn small boats over rough seas
Crucially, the passing vessel was able to reach the entire group. Its crew rescued all 10 Indian tourists, together with their guide and captain. The Sayang Tour speedboat then carried them away from the overturned vessel. Everyone aboard the longtail boat survived.
Separately, national park officials inspected the scene after reaching the capsized vessel. They found the boat overturned and partially submerged in the water. The vessel remained at sea after the passengers and crew had been rescued. Its owner will arrange for its recovery.
The drama unfolded while rough sea conditions were affecting the area. In response, officials issued a warning aimed particularly at operators of smaller vessels. Boat operators were urged to check weather forecasts carefully before heading to sea. They were also told to examine wave conditions and winds before departure.
For smaller boats, officials stressed the need to assess conditions carefully before leaving shore. Current sea conditions were described as rough. Operators were therefore urged to consider weather, waves and winds before beginning trips.
Five more rescued off Phuket after longtail fishing boat loses engine power and drifts in rough seas
On another front, a second longtail boat emergency unfolded off Phuket during rough sea conditions. Five people required rescue after a longtail fishing boat suffered engine failure offshore. The disabled vessel then began drifting at sea.
More alarmingly, none of the five people aboard had life jackets when the engine failed. The fishing boat was drifting in rough conditions with its passengers aboard. Nevertheless, rescuers eventually reached the vessel and all five people were saved.
The Phuket emergency differed sharply from the incident off Krabi. Engine failure disabled the fishing boat, while a large wave overturned the Krabi tourist vessel. Yet both incidents ended with everyone aboard rescued from rough seas.
In Krabi, the emergency began during a routine tourist journey from Ao Nang Beach towards Hong Island. The longtail boat was carrying 10 Indian visitors along with their guide and captain. Near Laem Hang Nak, the large wave suddenly brought that journey to an end.
Passing speedboat reaches capsized Krabi tour group before park patrol as six suffer minor injuries
Within moments, the vessel was overturned and partially submerged. Fortunately, another tour boat was passing through the area and spotted the group. The Sayang Tour speedboat moved in before the national park patrol arrived. Its crew successfully recovered every person from the capsized boat.
Once ashore, the scale of the injuries became clearer. Six of the 12 survivors had suffered minor injuries. Three tourists needed additional treatment and were taken to hospital. Still, there were no fatalities among the tourists or crew.
At sea, the overturned longtail boat remained behind after the rescue. National park personnel later reached the location and inspected the scene. The owner was then left responsible for arranging recovery of the partially submerged vessel.
In parallel, emergency personnel continued helping the survivors at Khlong Muang Beach. National park officials worked alongside local medical personnel and the Krabi Pitak Pracha Foundation. Their response followed the rapid intervention by the passing Sayang Tour speedboat.
Officials warn smaller boat operators over rough seas after 17 people survive two marine emergencies
The accident also triggered renewed attention to the immediate sea conditions. Officials specifically warned operators about rough waters and the risks facing smaller boats. Weather forecasts should be checked before departure, they said. Wave conditions and wind strength should also be examined carefully.
For the Indian group, the planned journey to Hong Island instead ended with an emergency landing at Khlong Muang Beach. All 12 people had survived after their longtail boat overturned near Laem Hang Nak. Six suffered minor injuries, while three tourists were sent onwards for hospital treatment.
Four rescued 12 miles offshore from Pattaya on Friday evening when a speedboat capsized in windy seas
70-year-old sailboat captain rescued at sea by the Thai navy off Phuket after engine failure 40 miles offshore
Elsewhere, the Phuket incident added another five people to the day’s marine rescues. Their longtail fishing boat lost engine power and drifted through rough conditions offshore. Significantly, nobody aboard had a life jacket when trouble struck. All five were ultimately rescued.
Across both incidents, 17 people were rescued from two longtail boats in difficulty. In Krabi, a large wave capsized a vessel carrying Indian tourists. Off Phuket, an engine failure left five people drifting without life jackets. In both cases, everyone aboard survived.
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