BEIJING: A viral video showing tourists enjoying the view on a ferry deck in Thailand, only to suddenly witness their luggage and personal belongings floating away, has caused widespread astonishment across social media platforms.
The incident took place on Nov 23, as a group of foreign tourists travelled by ferry from Koh Tao to Koh Samui. While they were soaking in the scenic views, they were alarmed to see their suitcases beginning to drift one by one into the sea.
Alice Zamparelli from Australia, one of the travellers, later posted a video of the incident online. In her footage, dozens of suitcases can be seen drifting across the water, accompanied by her caption: “All of our luggage was lost due to the incompetence of the crew members.”
Another video shared by a user depicted stunned passengers inside the ferry cabin, staring out the windows in disbelief as they witnessed their belongings being carried away by the waves.
It was later revealed that the crew had placed the luggage on the upper deck but failed to secure it properly. When the ferry encountered rough seas, the unfastened baggage was thrown overboard.
In response to the mishap, the ferry made an emergency stop. Some of the floating luggage was retrieved by crew members, while speedboats were dispatched to recover the rest.
Zamparelli recounted her experience, stating she spent “five hours, through blood, sweat, and tears” negotiating compensation. Ultimately, she was awarded 50,000 baht (US$1,500).
“The ferry crew and the company thought we were asking for too much, insisting that each piece of luggage was worth no more than 20,000 baht and refusing to offer more than that per item,” she explained, adding that each suitcase was actually valued at a minimum of 100,000 baht.
She also noted that some passengers received no compensation whatsoever, while others ended up missing their flights.
Another passenger, Norman, described the scene as the “entire bow of the boat was submerged by seawater,” characterising the conditions as extremely rough. Despite this harrowing journey, he expressed that Koh Tao remains a destination worth visiting.
The sea conditions around Thailand’s eastern offshore islands can be unpredictable during the rainy season, which lasts from May to October each year.
The video has since shocked many on social media.
One user expressed disbelief: “OMG, the sea looks rough and scary. I would cry.”
Another inquired: “Which boat company was this, please? Hope you’re OK.”
A third added: “And to top it all off, animals are going to eat all that plastic and clothing! It will pollute the sea even more than it already is.” - South China Morning Post
