TANINTHARYI DIVISION – Locals reported that a motorboat (locally called speedboat) exploded and the Pyu Saw Htee militia leader from Yaykantaung Village, Kyunsu Township died in the explosion.
The speedboat carrying 40 year old Pyu Saw Htee leader Kyaw Soe Htike and two other men exploded near after a mechanical error near Phinatkyun Village while on the way back to Kyunsu Township after selling seafood at Myeik.
All three men jumped into the water during the explosion but only the Pyu Saw Htee who was carrying the cash from the sale of seafood, a set of equipment and a pistol died, according to the residents.
“The boat exploded when they stopped the engine midway to refuel. The weather was hot and the engine was heated so when they poured in the fuel, it resulted in the accident,” a local explained the incident based on the record of the two survivors.
It is said that the dead body of Kyaw Soe Htike was discovered near Phinatkyun Village around two hours after the boat sank with burns on his hands.
“The cash was also recovered. Now the wake is being held at his house,” said another local.
Locals said that the other two men survived as they were lightly dressed and held on to the rope on the boat when they jumped into the water. Both survivors had burns on their legs and are receiving treatment at Myeik Hospital.
The Pyu Saw Htee leader who drowned to his death had demanded unfair discounts from heliciculture farms and threatened the civilians with weapons, according to the local residents.