News Desk
ISLAMABAD/BANGKOK: A Thai naval ship sank after a storm hit it in the Gulf of Thailand on Sunday night as more than 100 sailors scrambled for help from rescuers.
On Monday, Thai authorities said that at least 28 sailors were still stranded in the water after the HTMAS Sukhotai capsized. No fatalities were reported, but three sailors were said to be critical.
Officials said the naval ship sank after it took on water, which flooded its hull, short-circuiting its power room.
Sinking naval ship
With the power lost, sailors battled to retain control of the sinking ship, which listed onto its side before it started sinking at around 23:30 local time Sunday.
The Thai naval ship had been on patrol in waters just 32kilomtres off the coast of Bang Saphan district, in Thai Prachuap Khiri Khan province, authorities said, adding that the ship got caught in the storm.
Pictures posted by the Thai Navy on Twitter showed the vessel listing onto its starboard side and backup rescue ships trying to find survivors in the choppy waters.
At least three naval ships and helicopters were sent to assist the sinking ship and sailors, but only the frigate HTMAS Kraburi was able to reach the vessel before it sank. The navy said that 78 of the 106 sailors were rescued by the frigate on board the Sukhotai.
