27 September 2015
A boat carrying tourists was involved in a collision with another vessel on Friday night in Samut Songkhram province to the south-west of Bangkok. A 61-year-old Hungarian woman was killed and more than 20 people were injured in the accident which occurred on the Mae Klong River close to the Amphawa Floating Market. The boat was taking tourists to see the fireflies which are a famous attraction in the area.
Local police have speculated that the driver of the boat may have turned off the lights on his vessel to give the tourists a better view of the fireflies. The other boat involved in the accident was not carrying any passengers. The force of the collision threw all the tourists into the river. The woman who died suffered head injuries. All passengers were reported to be wearing life-vests.
Thailand is no stranger to boat accidents and this latest incident will once again call into question operating standards on Thailand’s waterways.