Skipper says tourist boat hit by high waves

KRABI, Aug 6 (TNA) - A skipper of an ill-fated long-tailed boat told an officer Sunday that his boat was hit by strong winds and high waves before it broke after hitting rocks, causing injuries to 12 foreign passengers aboard the boat. The accident took place Friday evening in Ao Nang sub-district of the southern resort province of Krabi. The skipper reportedly told marine officer in Krabi identified as Thanawat Runglert that he took all the 12 foreign tourists and a guide to two islands in the morning of Friday. The weather was fine at that time. But on the way back at about 2.30 p.m. of that day, the weather changed suddenly with waves higher than two metres hit his boat. Some of the foreign passengers and the guide jumped into the sea and suffered slight injuries. All of them were later sent to a hospital in the province for treatment. The skipper was not charged so far as officials needed to investigate more whether it was a human error or an accident. (TNA)