Chaos at Sea: Thai Navy Ship Sinks Amid Fierce Storm
Rescue teams raced against time on Monday to find survivors more than 12 hours after the HTMS Sukhothai corvette went down off Thailand’s coast. As of 5am UK time, 75 sailors had been plucked from the rough waters, but 31 remained stranded in the ocean, the Thai navy confirmed.
Treacherous Waves Hamper Rescue Efforts
The ship was struck by towering three-metre (10-foot) waves Sunday night, which battered the vessel and ultimately sealed its fate. Although the waves had calmed by Monday, conditions were still hazardous for small rescue boats.
“The waves are still high, and we can’t find them from the horizontal line. We have to fly the helicopters and search for them from a bird’s eye view instead,” said navy spokesman Admiral Pokkrong Monthatphalin.
One survivor described floating in the choppy sea for three agonising hours before rescue. Strong winds had blasted seawater into the ship, knocking out its electrical system and making it impossible to steer. Despite efforts from three frigates and two helicopters equipped with mobile pumps, the crew couldn’t pump out the incoming seawater due to the relentless winds. This flooding caused the vessel to list and sink.
Ship Was on Routine Patrol When Disaster Struck
The HTMS Sukhothai was patrolling 32 kilometres (20 miles) off Bangsaphan district in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, assisting fishing boats in distress. Admiral Pokkrong emphasised:
“Our top priority right now is to save all of the sailors. We intend to salvage the ship later.”
Rescue teams combed a 16-square-kilometre (6.2-square-mile) search area around the sinking site, battling fierce weather. While much of northern and central Thailand endures its chilliest spell of the year, the far south faces brutal storms and flooding – a deadly combo for those at sea.
