Five Singaporeans presumed drowned in Cambodia-police
24 Nov 2007 04:02:49 GMT Source: Reuters
(Changes dateline, source, adds detail) PHNOM PENH, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Five Singaporeans who took part in a dragon boat race in Cambodia are presumed drowned when their boat capsized, police said on Saturday. "We have no hope of finding survivors. We're searching for the bodies, but have found none yet," Phnom Penh police chief Touch Naroth told Reuters. The five were part of a crew of 22 people and were rowing back to the starting line of the 1.5 km race on Friday when a sudden wave caused their boat to overturn. Seven other members of the Singaporean team were taken to hospital, police said. The team were not wearing life jackets. Ten other Cambodian-crewed boats sank on the first day of the annual water festival in the capital, injuring at least one crew member, officials said. More than 26,000 and 430 wooden dragon boats, many of them from other Southeast Asian countries, are competing in the three-day race broadcast live on Cambodian television. The annual festival on the Tonle Sap River, presided over by King Norodom Sihamoni and government leaders, honors Cambodia's ancient naval warriors and fisherman and farmers give thanks to the river. (Additional reporting by Saeed Azhar in Singapore) (Reporting by Ek Madra and Saeed Azhar in, editing by Darren Schuettler & Louise Heavens)
