The sunken tugboat in the middle of the Pasak River in front of Phananchoeng Temple has now been fully raised above the water. Damage was found to its windows and doors. It is being prepared to be towed to a repair dock. River traffic is expected to reopen normally by noon tomorrow.
The incident involved the tugboat Ch. Ratchaneerungreung, whose engine malfunctioned and stopped in the middle of the Pasak River while towing a cargo ship. This caused the tugboat to lose balance, capsize, and sink near Phananchoeng Worawihan Temple in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. The boat operator managed to exit the vessel safely but suffered a broken right arm. Authorities later found the sunken boat at a depth of about 18 meters.
At 14:30 on 19 Oct 2026, officials began salvage operations using divers to tie ropes at various points on the boat before employing a crane to lift and stabilize it upright. The tugboat was then towed to a docking area opposite Phananchoeng Worawihan Temple to proceed with the recovery.
Most recently, at 17:30, after the rain ceased, officials started pumping water out of the vessel to raise it completely above the surface. After about an hour, the tugboat was successfully salvaged.
Initial inspections found damage to the boat's windows and doors but no cracks or leaks in the hull were detected. Two motorboats then assisted in stabilizing and towing the tugboat away from the riverbank to a shipyard for repair work.
The Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya branch of the Marine Department plans to reopen the waterway for cargo ships to pass through the area normally starting at 06:00 on 20 Oct 2026.