31 sailors missing after Thai warship capsizes and sinks in rough seas
A HUGE search and rescue operation was under way today for 31 sailors missing after a Thai navy warship sank in stormy seas.
HTMS Sukhothai capsized in the Gulf of Thailand after it took on water, flooding its hull and shortcircuiting its power room. The loss of power allowed more water to flow onboard. Dramatic pictures posted by the Thai Navy showed the vessel listing on to its starboard side and rescue ships trying to find survivors in the choppy waters. More than two dozen sailors were still missing after more than 12 hours. As of midmorning local time, 75 had been rescued. One crew member, who had spent three hours in the water, said that the ship was buffeted by 10ft waves as it sank.
It had been on patrol 20 miles off Prachuap Khiri Khan province.