Wiphawadi: A bamboo raft carrying a group of Buddhist monks broke apart while navigating a strong current during their journey from Ranong province to Nakhon Bang Cham in Kaeng Krung National Park, resulting in four monks missing.
According to Thai News Agency, the monks were attempting to cross the border from Kapoe District, Ranong Province, towards Surat Thani Province when the accident occurred. National park officials, along with local administration, Wiphawadi rescue team, and Wiphawadi Police Station officers, were alerted by the village headman of Village 15, Bang Cham, Takuk Nuea Subdistrict, about the incident involving 12 Buddhist monks.
Upon receiving the report, officials and local villagers initiated a search operation both by land and water. By 9:30 AM, three monks were found walking out of the deep forest to seek help. Two hours later, five more monks were located, increasing the number of those rescued to eight. These monks are currently receiving first aid at the Nakhon Bang Cham Buddhist monastery. Transporting the monks for further treatment proved challenging, requiring the rescue team to use a four-wheel drive vehicle.
One of the rescued monks shared that the group consisted of individuals from various regions. They had participated in a meditation retreat in Nakhon Si Thammarat province before continuing their practice at a monastery in Kapoe district, Ranong province. Since July 3rd, the group had been trekking through forests and mountains. They constructed a bamboo raft to navigate a forest canal towards Surat Thani province, but the strong and turbulent current caused the raft to disintegrate, scattering the monks in different directions. They survived by making their way through the dense forest.
Currently, four monks from the group remain unaccounted for. Search efforts by Kaeng Krung National Park, rescue teams, and local villagers have been divided into two groups to ensure a comprehensive search both on land and by boat along the river, with hopes of finding the missing monks safe.