31 sailors go missing after Thai navy ship capsizes during storm in Gulf of Thailand. See details

The HTMS Sukhothai ship sank on Sunday night when water reached its electrical systems. Authorities stated on Monday that they had rescued 75 crew members, but 31 are still missing amid stormy weather.

According to a navy spokesman, the search has been continuing for more than 12 hours. Search workers made concerted efforts all night to rescue survivors, and they extended the effort on Monday with air force aid.

What has the navy said is the cause of the disaster?

According to Admiral Pogkrong Monthardpalin, a naval spokesperson, this has nearly never occurred in the navy's history, particularly to a warship that remains in action.


The ship sank after taking in water, which swamped its deck and short-circuited its engine station. With the electricity off, the crew fought to keep control of the warship, which sank at 23:30 local time on Sunday after listing to one side.



The ship was on patrol 32km east of Bang Saphan in Prachuap Khiri Khan province when it was trapped in a storm on Sunday. Pictures uploaded to the Thai Navy's Twitter handle reveal the warship tilting to the starboard side and supporting rescue boats searching for survivors in rough seas.

Three navy ships and helicopters were dispatched to help. However, only the HTMS Kraburi arrived before the ship sank. According to the navy, the frigate rescued most of Sukhothai's crew. In the ocean and on life rafts, sailors donning life vests were spotted.

The navy has provided little information on their health. Local news outlets broadcast images of medical workers at the port loading crew members onto stretchers.

FAQs:

1. What has the Thai Prime Minister said about the incident?
   Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha issued a statement on Monday indicating officials were investigating the accident. He stated that five persons were critically injured.
2. When was the warship constructed?
   The HTMS Sukhothai was built in the United States for the Thai navy in the mid-1980s.