31 missing as Thai warship sinks

Thai navy ships and helicopters searched yesterday for 31 sailors still missing more than 17 hours after their warship sank in rough seas in the Gulf of Thailand.

Seventy-five sailors from the HTMS Sukhothai corvette had been rescued.

The high waves that caused the accident had lessened since Sunday, but were still high enough to endanger small boats, the navy said.

A rescued crew member interviewed by Thai PBS television said he had to float in the sea for three hours before he was rescued. He said the ship was buffeted by waves three meters high as it was sinking, complicating rescue efforts.

Navy spokesman Admiral Pokkrong Monthatphalin said: "The waves are still high and we cannot search for them from the horizontal line. We have to fly the helicopters and search for them."

Strong winds blew seawater onto the Sukhothai and knocked out its electrical system on Sunday, making it difficult to control the ship. The navy dispatched three frigates and two helicopters with mobile pumping machines to try removing the seawater, but in vain due to strong winds.

Thailand's Meteorological Department had issued a weather advisory for the general area just a few hours before the accident. It warned small craft not to go to sea until Tuesday.

ASSOCIATED PRESS