Death toll in Thailand boat capsize rises sharply

A total of 29 bodies have been recovered from the passenger boat capsized on the Chao Phraya River in Ayutthaya province on September 18, according to a report by the Vietnam News Agency in Bangkok. Three people are still believed to be missing.

Police investigate the scene of the incident. (Source: Getty)

Thai authorities are expected to salvage the ship on September 20 to investigate the incident. The ship’s captain was arrested after fleeing the scene following the incident.

The incident occurred at around 4 p.m. local time on September 18. The boat carrying about 150 passengers, most of whom were Muslims, capsized shortly after leaving the port.

The passengers were traveling from Nonthaburi province to Ayutthaya, about 90km north of Bangkok, to attend a religious ceremony and were on their way back. The initial cause was determined to be that the boat crashed into a concrete pillar on the river near the Sanam Chai temple.

Boat accidents are common in Thailand, believed to be due to poor safety standards on waterways. In particular, the Chao Phraya River is often busy and boats are always crowded.

According to VIETNAM+