Thai navy ship sank in storm with 31 sailors missing
31 sailors are missing after a warship capsized and sank during a storm in the Gulf of Thailand.
The Thai navy has confirmed the ship – the HTMS Sukhothai – was carrying over 100 crew members.
The ship sank after water flooded its power controls on Sunday night.
Rescue teams have managed to rescue 75 crew members, but 31 were still missing in the rough seas.
The search and rescue teams worked through the night to find survivors, and it has continued into Monday.
The Navy has said it will open an investigation into the cause of the disaster.
‘Ship sank after it took on water’
The ship sank after water flooded the hull and short-circulated its power room, officials say.
Once the power was lost, the crew battled to retain control of the ship, which went onto its side, before sinking around 23:30 local time.
The ship had been on patrol east of Bang Saphan, in the Prachuap Khiri Khan province, when it got caught in the storm.
Pictures posted on the Thai Navy’s Twitter account show the vessel listing onto its starboard side, and back-up rescue ships trying to find survivors in the rough waters.
There were three naval ships and helicopters sent to assist, but only the HTMS Kraburi reached the vessel before it sank.
Sailors who were wearing life jackets were found in the water and in life rafts. The navy has disclosed little detail on their condition.
The Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-Cha released a statement on Monday. “I am following the news closely – about five people are seriously injured,” he said.
