I discussed in a recent article about how the lack of safety is paramount in Thailand. Tourists should never assume anything is safe, when profit is prioritized over safety.
A tour guide drowned when a flash flood swept into Nam Talu cave in Khao Sok National Park as a group of tourists was leaving it on Tuesday evening.
The 22 foreign tourists and a second guide had a lucky escape from the torrent, and without serious injury.
The cave, next to the Rajjaprabha dam reservoir in Phanom district, is closed to the public from June to November each year, the wet season, because of the danger of flooding.
“The cave is closed during those months because of the danger of flooding, yet a tour guide decided that he would ignore the safety rules and take the tourists inside the cave anyways.”
What does this say about Thailand, when stupid, life costing decisions are made for profit?
One of the guides was washed off his feet and carried back into the cave. The others in the party were able to resist the current and were led to safety by rangers. Two Dutch women received minor leg injuries and were treated at a local hospital.
Rangers assisted by rescue workers started a search for the missing guide, Pongyot Koeddee, a 37-year-old native of Ubon Ratchathani. His dead body was found inside the cave about 3.20am on Wednesday.
Attapol Charoenchansa, director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, said on Wednesday he had ordered the chief of the Khao Sok National Park to take legal action against the tour firm that took the tourists into Nam Talu cave despite it being closed.
On Oct 13, 2007, a flash flood killed eight Thai and foreign people who were trapped in the cave.
Even though tourists were killed previously, there were no lessons learned.
Feel pity as the tour company probably ordered this tour guide to take the tourists inside, even though they understand the possibility of death is high.
It is hard to understand the logic in this decision but one can assure it is always about profit.
Don’t trust ANYONE when you are in Thailand with your personal safety.