Tour guide dies after boat capsizes in Ratchaprapha Dam; all foreign tourists rescued
A boat capsized at Rajjaprabha Dam, Surat Thani, leaving one Thai tour guide dead. Sixteen foreign tourists were rescued unharmed. Investigation underway.
The chief of Khao Sok National Park, Teekhawut Sriburin, under the Protected Area Regional Office 4 (Surat Thani), reported on Sunday that a tourist boat had capsized in the Rajjaprabha Dam reservoir in Khao Phang subdistrict, Ban Ta Khun district, Surat Thani province.
The incident occurred at 11.28 am on July 20, 2025. According to Nirut Saetan, head of the Ban Cheow Lan Pier Tourist Service Centre, there were 18 people on board at the time: 16 foreign tourists—including five Belgian and 11 Dutch nationals—along with one tour guide and the boat operator.
All passengers, including the boat driver, were rescued safely and sustained no injuries. However, the tour guide was found to be suffering from water inhalation and was rushed to Ban Ta Khun Hospital. She was later pronounced dead at 12:30 p.m.
The deceased was identified as Ms. Thassawan, 44, a licensed tour guide with a valid guide permit set to expire on November 3, 2029.
Local police and relevant authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident.
