A boat rowed by Singaporean nationals in the Cambodian boat race festival at the Tonle Sap River in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Friday, Nov. 23, 2007. Five Singaporean nationals were missing after the boat they used to take part in a traditional Cambodian boat race festival capsized in the river, officials said Friday. (AP Photo/Khem Sovannara) 
A boat rowed by Singaporean nationals in the Cambodian boat race festival is escorted to the shore after completing the race at the Tonle Sap River in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Friday, Nov. 23, 2007. Five Singaporean nationals were missing after the boat they used to take part in a traditional Cambodian boat race festival capsized in the river, officials said Friday. (AP Photo/Khem Sovannara) 23 November 2007
Channel News Asia (Singapore)
PHNOM PENH : Five Singaporeans are missing feared drowned and 17 others have been hospitalised after their boat capsized Friday during Cambodia's annual water festival river races, officials said.
The mishap occurred late in the afternoon on the first day of races, which draws millions, mostly spectators and holiday-makers, to the capital Phnom Penh, police chief Touch Naruth told AFP.
Nhim Vanda of Cambodia's National Disaster Management Committee said the accident happened as the boat tried to dock after racing.
"Five of the 22 crew members are missing after their boat sunk," he said.
More than 440 boats are entered in this year's races, including a number crewed by foreigners.
All 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) countries have boats competing.
Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng was supervising rescue efforts late Friday, officials said.
Accidents are common during the boat races, which involve long, thin "dragon boats" crewed by as many as 70 rowers which compete against each other in the sometimes choppy waters in front of Phnom Penh's royal palace.
Meanwhile, Singapore's Foreign Affairs Ministry and its embassy in Cambodia are working with the local authorities in the search and rescue operations of the five missing Singaporeans.
The ministry said Singapore's Ambassador in Cambodia is at the location.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force has been informed and is helping by providing advice on search and rescue operations to the embassy in Cambodia.
The ministry said Singaporeans who are concerned about relatives and friends in Cambodia participating in the event can contact its office at 6332-0000 (24-hour phone line), fax (6476-7302) or by email at mfa_duty_officer@mfa.gov.sg. AFP/CNA/ch/ls
The mishap occurred late in the afternoon on the first day of races, which draws millions, mostly spectators and holiday-makers, to the capital Phnom Penh, police chief Touch Naruth told AFP.
Nhim Vanda of Cambodia's National Disaster Management Committee said the accident happened as the boat tried to dock after racing.
"Five of the 22 crew members are missing after their boat sunk," he said.
More than 440 boats are entered in this year's races, including a number crewed by foreigners.
All 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) countries have boats competing.
Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng was supervising rescue efforts late Friday, officials said.
Accidents are common during the boat races, which involve long, thin "dragon boats" crewed by as many as 70 rowers which compete against each other in the sometimes choppy waters in front of Phnom Penh's royal palace.
Meanwhile, Singapore's Foreign Affairs Ministry and its embassy in Cambodia are working with the local authorities in the search and rescue operations of the five missing Singaporeans.
The ministry said Singapore's Ambassador in Cambodia is at the location.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force has been informed and is helping by providing advice on search and rescue operations to the embassy in Cambodia.
The ministry said Singaporeans who are concerned about relatives and friends in Cambodia participating in the event can contact its office at 6332-0000 (24-hour phone line), fax (6476-7302) or by email at mfa_duty_officer@mfa.gov.sg. AFP/CNA/ch/ls
7 comments:
Singaporeans had no inflatable life jackets with inflatable pump actvated by string attache to the seats? Very sad.
that's not an air plane seat
I hope they find the missing people quickly; otherwise, they may end up somewhere in Vietnam.
I can't believed it, 17 have been hospitalized? What did they do, used a airplane turbine jet engine on their boat or something?
I DOUBT U HAVE READ THE REPORT PROPERLY. THEY WERE HIT BY A SUDDEN WAVE! INTERNATIONAL RACE REQUIREMENT DO NOT REQUIRE ANY PADDLER, COXSWAIN OR DRUMMER TO PUT ON ANY PERSONAL FLOATING DEVICES. PLEASE DO NOT GIVE ANY UNNECESSARY COMMENT IF YOU ARE NOT A DRAGON BOATER! WE HAVE LOST OUR FRIENDS AND YET YOU ARE STILL JEERING AT THEM. SHAME ON YOU.
Well, they didn't said anything about wave in this report, but in some of the reports above, and I was reading this report when I posted this comment.
It is just tough to imagine the scale of the injuries in the bassac river.
yes, please do not comment unneccessary if you were not there or one of the boaters.
It wasn't a comment, but a curiosity of the accident. Can't you tell?
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