Three oarsmen are still missing after their boat crashed into a bridge support and capsized during a longboat race on the Chi River in Muang district of the north-eastern province of Maha Sarakham yesterday (Sunday).

Thirty-seven other oarsmen were, however, plucked from the raging river by their competitors, who immediately rushed to their rescue.

Emergency services soon arrived and searched until dusk for the three missing oarsmen. The sunken longboat was, however, salvaged.

A witness, who captured the incident on his smart phone, said that this year’s finish line had been moved from its original location to closer to the bridge and the currents were strong.

Some of the oarsmen said that they encountered what appeared to be a whirlpool near a bridge support, which might have caused the boat to capsize.