A Thai Navy ship has sunk in the Gulf of Thailand and ships and helicopters were working on Monday to rescue the sailors from the water.
Bangkok: A Royal Thai Navy (RTN) ship HTMS Sukhothai (FS-442) sank in the Gulf of Thailand at 11:30 pm local time on Sunday, following a power outage and subsequent flooding of the vessel, according to the service. The Navy said as of mid-morning, 75 sailors had been rescued and 31 were still in the water as ships and helicopters worked Monday to rescue sailors from the water.
RTN’s official Twitter account posted photos and videos of the incident the same night, saying that the Sukhothai was on patrol 20 miles from the port in Bang Saphan district, central Thailand, when strong waves caused water to enter the ship’s electrical systems. Penetrated, resulting in loss of power and control for the ship as well as water entering the hull resulting in capsizing of the ship.
Navy explains the matter #royal ship sukhothai (continue)
Sukhothai royal ship stern began to sink. HTMS Kraburi HTMS Sukhothai personnel try to help to the best of their abilityNavy will help considering the safety of jawans as the most important pic.twitter.com/j9ZUgc7agf
– Navy Royal Thai Navy (@prroyalthainavy) December 18, 2022
Strong winds whipped up seawater on the HTMS Sukhothai corvette on Sunday evening and knocked out its electrical system. The Royal Thai Navy dispatched three frigates and two helicopters with mobile pumping machines to try to assist the disabled ship by removing seawater but could not do so due to strong winds.
Navy explains the matter #royal ship sukhothai While patrolling 20 miles from the pier in Bang Saphan district of Prachuap province, the ship capsized. Strong winds are causing sea water to flow into the electrical system. Big machines stopped working due to power failure. could not control the ship and the water entered the hull so fast that the ship capsized pic.twitter.com/qqians03cK
– Navy Royal Thai Navy (@prroyalthainavy) December 18, 2022
The loss of power allowed more seawater to flow into the vessel, causing it to list and sink. It occurred while the warship was on patrol at sea 32 kilometers (20 mi) from the pier in Bangsafan district in Prachuap Kheri Khan province.
While northern and central Thailand are seeing their coldest temperatures of the year, far southern Thailand has been experiencing storms and flooding in recent days. Ships were warned to stay ashore.