Phnom Penh – Cambodia’s king Norodom Sihamoni has sent his personal condolences to Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong after five young Singaporeans drowned at the nation’s annual Water Festival, Tourism Minister Thong Kong said Sunday.

‘The king has sent his personal condolences, as has Prime Minister Hun Sen. I too express my deepest sadness to the families and the Singaporean people on behalf of my ministry,’ Thong Kong said at the closing ceremony of the three-day river races.

‘We all deeply regret such a tragedy could befall those people while they were visitors to Cambodia,’ he said.

‘It is unthinkable that this could happen at the Water Festival. Many people asked many times to invite foreign teams to compete at this wonderful event, but we must also be able to protect their safety.’

The bodies of the five rowers who were swept away when their boat capsized Friday were recovered earlier Sunday.

Organizers said they could not recall the last time there had been a fatality at the races, which celebrate the end of the monsoon season.

http://news.monstersandcritics.com/asiapacific/news/article_1376217.php/Cambodian_king_sends_condolences_for_Singaporean_rowers__Extra_

SINGAPORE: 27-year-old Poh Boon San, a MINDEF engineer, is one of the rowers who died in Friday’s tragic boating accident in Cambodia.

His two elder brothers went to Cambodia on Saturday while his elderly parents stayed behind in Singapore for more news.

It was a difficult moment for the young rower’s father, Poh Bock Tho, when he received a call at noon on Sunday, informing him that his son’s body had been found.

He said: “ I had been hoping that he was all right and that somebody had saved him. But it has happened and there is nothing we can do now. His mother knows about it and she is very sad.”

Boon San, the youngest son in the family, had always been very active and had represented Singapore in many dragon boating competitions.

Recalling the past, Mr Poh said his son used to be very naughty when he was young and only started studying seriously in secondary school.

He eventually made it to Nanyang Polytechnic and then to Nanyang Technological University, where he graduated with an honours degree.

Mr Poh said he just hopes his son’s body can be repatriated as soon as possible.

- CNA/so
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/313654/1/.html

All the five bodies were found around 11:30 a.m. local time on Sunday after a race boat from Singapore sank on Friday in the Tonle Sap River of Cambodia, local police said.

The fifth, the fourth and the third ones were spoted in the water behind the Cambodian a Hotel in Phnom Penh, the second in front of the Royal Palace, and the first about two km away from the Royal Palace, said the police.

All the five victims are Singaporean students.

Hundreds of rescuers including those from Singapore, have been searching the bodies along the river since Saturday.

The race boat with a crew of 22 people capsized at about 6:30 p.m. local time on Friday at the Phnom Penh Port, as Cambodia conducted its annual celebration of the Water Festival.

The total number of participating boats of the traditional race stood at 432, including nine boats representing each of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member countries, with the exception of Myanmar.

The race is expected to end on Sunday.

Source: Xinhua

http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/6309039.html

By Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 25 November 2007 0046 hrs

SINGAPORE: Relatives of five young men missing in Cambodia in a dragon boating accident have arrived in Phnom Penh.

They arrived on Saturday evening and were taken to the accident site by the Singapore Ambassador to Cambodia.

It was dark, though, by the time they went on the river. They were then given an hour-long briefing during which emotions ran high.

Accompanying the 13 family members are three psychologists – one from the Ministry of Health, another from the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports and a third from the Institute of Mental Health.

The five missing men are all members of the new national dragon boat team that was formed about a year ago.

They are 23-year-old Reuben Kee En Rui, 31-year-old Stephen Loh Soon Ann, 24-year-old Jeremy Goh Tze Xiong, 27-year-old Poh Boon San and 20-year-old Chee Wei Cheng.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has written to the president of the Dragon Boating Association, Kwek Siew Jin, to convey his deep sympathies for the five missing Singaporeans.

Mr Kwek is currently in Phnom Penh with the family members of the missing men.

Mr Lee said he was saddened to learn of the accident, adding that it was a trying time for all, especially for the family members.

He said the Singapore government is in touch with the Cambodian authorities and providing them with the necessary help.

Mr Lee added that the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) had deployed a team from the Naval Diving Unit on Saturday afternoon to assist in search and rescue efforts.

Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen had also written to Mr Lee to assure him of his country’s full support for the search operations and to express his sorrow and sympathy.

A Foreign Affairs Ministry statement said PM Hun Sen informed PM Lee that the relevant Cambodian authorities including the Phnom Penh Municipality, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Interior and the National Committee for Disaster Management are continuing with their efforts in the search for those still unaccounted for.

Mr Lee asked Mr Kwek to convey his deepest sympathies to the family members who have been briefed on the ongoing search and rescue efforts, adding that he wished them comfort and strength during this extremely difficult period.

The accident, which happened on Friday at about 4.20pm, was caught on camera by a MediaCorp viewer Joey Paraiso who was in Phnom Penh to watch the annual race.

The boat capsized as the 22 men were rowing back to the starting line at the end of the 1.5-kilometre Cambodia-ASEAN Traditional Boat Race.

Apparently, it was swept by a sudden wave and hit a pontoon, causing the boat to overturn.

Reports say the rowers were not wearing life jackets when the accident happened.

Earlier, rescue divers said it was a challenge to find the missing dragon boaters.

In Singapore, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, said he was distressed when he heard about the accident.

He added: “ Right now our priorities are to find them, to provide comfort to the family members and then find out exactly what happened and then take stock of the situation. We have a good dragon boat team with strong interest among young Singaporeans and we do regularly send teams overseas to participate in this and that’s why this becomes even more shocking and distressing.”

He added that the other priority is to ensure the safety of the other 17 Singaporeans who were rescued.

Dr Balakrishnan said: “ We obviously will want to bring them back as soon as possible. I’m sure they want to get back here as well but our priority is to make sure they have all received full treatment and that their conditions have stabilised before we bring them back.”

The Ministry says Singaporeans who are concerned about relatives and friends in Cambodia participating in the event can contact the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Hotline: 63320000 (24 hours)
Fax Number: 6476-7302
Email:mfa_duty_officer@mfa.gov.sg.

The Singapore team was one of the 400 dragon boat teams that took part in this year’s Cambodia-ASEAN Traditional Boat Race, which attracted millions of visitors to Phnom Penh. – CNA/ch/ls/ir

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/313526/1/.html

By Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 25 November 2007 1043 hrs

SINGAPORE: A Channel NewsAsia viewer who was at the scene of the dragon boat accident in Cambodia on Friday evening gave an eyewitness account. Mr Joey Paraiso, who was in Cambodia to cheer the Filipino team, also sent Channel NewsAsia a series of photos of the accident and subsequent rescue efforts.

The Singapore boat capsized as the 22 men were rowing back to the starting line at the end of the 1.5-kilometre Cambodia-ASEAN Traditional Boat Race.

Five men are missing after the incident, all members of the new national dragon boat team that was formed about a year ago.

Mr Paraiso recounted what he saw.

He said: ” What I witnessed was the Singaporean team had already finished the race and was starting back to the point……for them to disembark.

“ Unfortunately, during the time team players (were) getting off from the boat, the boat suddenly shook off and overturned. It happened so quickly.”

He added: “ The remaining players, the Singapore rowers, one by one floated and saved themselves and there were some railings that they were able to hold on…..

“ All the players, I guess, were a little over-fatigued so they were not able to swim normally, so they just looked for something to hang on and the current was a bit strong.

“ All the rescued players were able to meet on the platform and to account for those missing.”

“ All the people watching that incident were shocked, so (there was) a little commotion and panic all around the area,” he added. – CNA/ir

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/313577/1/.html