KOH PHANGAN –
A search and rescue operation successfully located and brought to safety two Italian tourists who had lost their way in the dense forest near Haad Khom Beach on Phangan Island in Surat Thani.
In the evening earlier this weekend, officials received an urgent request for assistance from the Italian Embassy, relayed through the Tourist Police Hotline 1155. The embassy reported that two female tourists, identified as Ms. Maria and Ms. Linda, were unable to find their way out of the forest after venturing into the area during the day.
A team of more than 50 personnel were dispatched to locate the stranded tourists. Through phone communication, the tourists provided their location coordinates to authorities, enabling search teams to navigate the challenging terrain. Heavy rainfall and nighttime conditions made the rescue effort difficult, but after approximately three hours of coordinated searching, the team successfully located both women and escorted them out of the forest unharmed.
Upon being rescued, the two tourists expressed profound gratitude to the officials involved. They told rescuers that they had been riding a motorcycle around the island, exploring various scenic locations, when they accidentally entered the forest and were unable to find their way out.
