12-12-2023 (BANGKOK) A leisurely family outing took a tragic turn on Monday evening as five family members, including three children, lost their lives in a devastating accident while gathering sand along the Mun River in Buri Ram province.
The ill-fated expedition was led by Wiriya Katchan, 45, accompanied by his 23-year-old daughter Nucharin, his nieces aged 14 and 11, and his eight-year-old nephew. Departing from their residence in Satuk district on a tractor earlier that Monday morning, their purpose was to collect river sand for a home improvement project.
Bang-Orn, Wiriya’s widow, revealed that her husband brought along the children, who cherished swimming in the river’s shallows. However, when the group failed to return by noon, she raised the alarm, prompting the involvement of local police and a rescue team.
By 3 pm, the tractor was discovered on the riverbank, devoid of any occupants except for the children’s abandoned bags and shoes.
A massive search effort ensued, involving police, volunteers, and divers who tirelessly combed the river for over three hours. Eventually, the bodies of the family members were discovered, lodged in the riverbed sand not far from each other.
Authorities speculated that the initial victim might have become trapped in the sand, prompting the others to rush to their aid, only to meet a similar tragic fate.
The recovery operation concluded on Monday night, with all five bodies retrieved from the river. An investigation into the incident is now underway, and funeral rites are being arranged for the deceased.
The subdistrict administration organisation has pledged to extend support and relief to the grieving family members during this challenging time.
