A Thai Warship Capsized In Storm carrying more than 100 crew members collapsed and sank in the Gulf of Thailand, according to the Thai navy, leaving 31 servicemen unaccounted for.
On Sunday night, the HTMS Sukhothai sank after water filled its electrical controls.
Authorities reported on Monday that they had saved 75 crew members, but 31 remained missing in high waves.
A navy official told the BBC, “It’s been more than 12 hours, but we will keep looking.”
The search for survivors continued on Monday with air force support after search teams worked all night.
The navy also revealed that it would look into what caused the accident. Admiral Pogkrong Monthardpalin, a spokesman for the force, told the BBC that such an incident “has nearly never occurred in the history of our force, especially to a ship that is still in active operation.”
According to officials, the ship sank after absorbing water, which swamped its hull and shut down its power room.
The crew struggled to maintain control of the ship after the power went out, and it leaned to one side before sinking at 23:30 local time on Sunday (16:30 GMT).
The ship was trapped in the storm on Sunday as it was on a patrol 32 kilometers (20 miles) east of Bang Saphan in the province of Prachuap Khiri Khan.
Dramatic images of the ship listing to its starboard side and backup rescue ships searching for survivors in turbulent waters were uploaded on the Thai Navy’s Twitter account.
Three naval ships and helicopters were sent to assist, only the HTMS Kraburi reached the ship before it sank.
According to the navy, the frigate took up the majority of the Sukhothai’s crew. There were sailors in life rafts and the sea wearing life jackets. On their condition, the navy has provided very little information. Pictures of medical professionals at the dock escorting crew members off in stretchers were released in the local media.
Authorities were looking into the incident, according to a statement made public on Monday by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha.
About five people had critical injuries, according to the news that I am actively monitoring, he said.
In the middle of the 1980s, the US produced the HTMS Sukhothai for the Thai navy.
Post Source: BBC
