Large cargo ship rams into riverside homes

05 เมษายน 2560

Big cargo ship (1599 tonnes) rams into riverside homes at 8:30am in the morning waking up residents.

RIVER SAFETY

Vietnamese ship rams into riverside Bangkok homes

5/04/2017
Sutthiwit Chayutworakan

SAMUT PRAKAN - A Vietnamese cargo ship ploughed into riverside houses along the Chao Phraya River in Phra Pradaeng district on Wednesday morning, damaging three homes.

The Star 62 ran aground at Phra Pradaeng pier off Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan road around 8.30am in the morning, police said.

Residents fled to the streets in panic as the cargo ship loomed over them.

Three houses were damaged, one badly, but nobody was injured.

Ms Bussaba, owner of one of the damaged houses, told police she was resting inside her home and heard a loud noise coming from the middle of the river.

She turned to look and was terrified to see a large cargo ship bearing down on her house.

She fled in fear and just seconds later the vessel's bow rammed into her home.

Neighbours ran out into the street in panic.

Large cargo ship rams into riverside homes

NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED

Previously, a cargo ship had run into a pier opposite her house, she said.

That was less dramatic and nobody was hurt then also.

Samut Prakan marine and local officials were inspecting the ship and the damaged houses.

Residents look at one of the damaged houses.

WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED?

Investigators said the Star 62 was returning to Vietnam after unloading cargo.

A failure in the steerage system (steering) caused the large ship to veer into the riverbank.

The ship's captain and crew members were taken to the Phra Pradaeng police station for questioning.

Authorities were contacting the ship's insurance firm to arrange an inspection and cover the cost of the damage caused to the houses.

The Star 62 is a general cargo ship registered in Vietnam and is 72 metres long.

Her gross tonnage is 1599 and deadweight is 3093.