Photos: Singaporean boat capsized (above), Hun Sen and wife, Mrs Bun Rany (L) and King Sihamoni during Water Festival on 23rd November 2007.
Five Singaporeans missing in Cambodian boat race mishap: officialsPosted: 23 November 2007
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
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
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