Surat Thani, Heavy rain, flash floods flooded the Nam Thalu cave, Ratchaprapa Dam, 24 tourists and tour guides were trapped in the cave. Park officials were able to rescue 23 people, while one tour guide was swept away by the flash flood and was found trapped in the cave.
In Surat Thani, yesterday (6 August), there was heavy rain and flash floods in many areas. At around 7:00 PM, Khao Sok National Park officials stationed at the Ratchaprapha Dam in Surat Thani Province received a call from a guide asking for help for over 20 tourists who were trapped in the Nam Thalu cave. The guide said that he had taken 22 foreign tourists to visit the cave at the end of the dam. However, while they were walking, heavy rain continued and flash floods broke into the cave. The guide had to rush to get the tourists out of the cave, but was unable to save everyone. He wanted the officials to come and help urgently. Khao Sok National Park officials stationed at the Kraisorn raft point mobilized their forces to help, but the te
am was only able to save 23 tourists and guides because another guide, Mr. Pongyot or Guide Kook, aged 37, was swept away by the water while helping to transport the tourists out.
Finally, the search team from early evening until 3:30 a.m. found the body of Guide Cook, swept away by the water and stuck on the inner cave wall. The rescue team has now sent the body for an autopsy at Ban Takhun Hospital.
For Nam Thalu Cave or Nam Lod Cave, it is located above the Ratchaprapha Dam, Khao Phang Subdistrict, Ban Ta Khun District, Surat Thani Province. To get there, you have to take a boat from the tourist pier for 2 hours. After that, go along Khlong Pae for another 15 minutes and walk for another 2 kilometers to reach the cave. Inside the cave, there is a stream flowing throughout the 600-meter length. However, 17 years ago, there was a flash flood incident in this cave, which killed 8 foreign tourists. Both the tourists and the guides were trapped in the cave for more than 24 hours.
Source: Thai News Agency