Thai navy hunts for 31 missing sailors after warship sinks

BANGKOK – Thai military frigates and helicopters were on Monday searching for 31 sailors after a naval vessel sank, with dozens of others having been hauled from choppy waters.

The HTMS Sukhothai capsized late on Sunday night as it was patrolling the Gulf of Thailand, about 37km from Bang Saphan pier in Prachuap Khiri Khan off the nations south-eastern coast.

Some sailors survived by jumping into a life raft at night, according to images shared by the Royal Thai Navy, which said 75 people had been rescued.

However, 31 sailors were still missing on Monday afternoon, according to navy spokesman, Admiral Pogkrong Montradpalin.

The search and rescue operation involved two Seahawk helicopters, two frigates and one amphibious ship, according to a navy statement.

A statement from the Royal Thai Air Force later Monday said they were also assisting in the operation, without giving details.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha said the cause of the incident was being investigated.

I am following the news closely, about five people are seriously injured, he added in a statement.

The US-built corvette, in use since 1987, was hit by strong waves and the crew lost control after seawater flowed into the ship through a pipe, cutting off the power, Adm Montradpalin said. Water then rushed into the hull and the boat began to capsize.

The ships operating systems stopped working, causing the ship to lose control, he said.

Videos and photos shared on social media show the Sukhothai listing at a nearly 60-degree angle to the water, the sound of whipping winds and shouting sailors in the background., The Guardian reported. Embed Twitter Tweet URL A picture shared by the navy showed the grey vessel flipped over on its side, while another image on a scanner screen showed the bow of the ship and a gun turret poking out above the waterline as it went down.

Other images shared on the navys Twitter account showed men wrapped in blankets following their rescue. Embed Twitter Several areas in southern Thailand have been hit by storms and flooding in recent days.

The Thai metrological office said on Monday that strong winds were causing stormy conditions in the Gulf of Thailand, warning seafarers to proceed with caution and small boats to stay ashore.

It was the first sinking of a Thai warship since World War II when the HTMS Samui went down near Malaysia after being torpedoed by a US submarine, killing 31 sailors, media outlet Khaosod English reported

In 2018, a boat carrying mostly Chinese tourists capsized off Phuket island on Thailands west coast.

More than 40 people died in the accident, one of the worst boat disasters in the countrys recent history. AFP Embed Twitter Tweet URL More On This Topic Vietnamese man rescued by Thai Navy as he tries to row boat to India to meet wife We pulled them up one by one: How Spore-bound vessels crew saved 303 Sri Lankans from sinking boat