PATTAYA, Thailand
A small tourist boat was slammed ashore by powerful waves and strong winds late on Wednesday night, sustaining severe damage on Pattaya Beach.
The incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. on July 8th, 2026, near the entrance of Pattaya Soi 1. Local residents alerted authorities after spotting the vessel being battered against the shoreline by continuous waves.
Upon arrival, reporters found the small tourist boat grounded on the beach, with waves still crashing heavily against its hull. The starboard side of the vessel was badly smashed, and strong winds continued to whip up high waves, causing other anchored boats offshore to rock violently.
The boat’s owner, Mr. Prasit Sukun, 59, told The Pattaya News reporters he received a phone call from people on the beach informing him that his vessel had broken free from its mooring and been driven ashore by wind. Rushing to the scene, he discovered the right side of the hull had been heavily damaged by the pounding waves.
Mr. Prasit said the boat had been anchored approximately 200 meters from shore. It was used to ferry tourists and for private charter fishing trips. Although it had not been in regular operation for nearly a year, he maintained and serviced it regularly.
He acknowledged that the exact reason the boat broke free remains unclear. However, he noted that the anchor rope was thick and sturdy, making it unlikely to snap on its own. He has not ruled out the possibility that someone with ill intent deliberately cut the rope, though he added that the severe weather conditions at the time could also have caused it to fail.
Authorities have been unable to move the vessel so far and plan to assess the situation and damage in detail on Thursday morning. The owner estimates losses at several hundred thousand baht. If the boat is too badly damaged to be repaired on site, officials will be called in to assist with removing it from the beach.
