31 sailors feared dead as Naval ship sinks off southeast coast

 About 31 sailors were declared missing after a naval ship sank on Monday off the south-eastern coast of Thailand.

A spokesperson of Thai Navy, Admiral Pogkrong Montradpalin, narrated on Monday that the naval vessel, HTMS Sukhothai, was on patrol on the Gulf of Thailand, about 20 nautical miles from Bang Saphan pier in southern Prachuap Khiri Khan, when it ran into strong tides and sank late Sunday night.

He said that a rescue mission was launched after the vessel’s electronic system was damaged.

According to Admiral Pogkrong Montradpalin, “the ship sank shortly after midnight. We are still looking for 31 missing sailors.

“The ship’s operating systems stopped working, causing the ship to lose control,”

The Naval authorities in a statement, indicated that 75 of 106 personnel on board were pulled from the waters in a rescue operation involving two seahawk helicopters, two frigates and one amphibious ship.

The statement added that the search-and-rescue operation, which started at 7.00am, was ongoing.

The statement disclosed that about 11 naval personnel were being treated at Bang Saphan hospital, while some 40 others were being housed at shelters.