Thai Navy Ship Capsizes in Storm, Leaving 31 Thai Marines Missing

At least 31 Thai marines are missing after their warship capsized in rough waters in the Gulf of Thailand on Sunday night, prompting Thailand’s navy to dispatch ships and helicopters for search operations.

The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) announced on Twitter that the HTMS Sukhothai ship was patrolling 20 miles from the pier at Bangsaphan district in Prachuap Khiri Khan province when the incident occurred at about 11:30 p.m. Sunday.

The crew lost control of the ship when seawater entered the electrical system and caused a power outage during the strong winds, according to the RTN. The power failure allowed seawater to enter the hull.

Thai officials said 75 marines were rescued, 11 of whom were being treated in the hospital, while 31 marines remained missing as of noon on Monday.

The RTN said it deployed three naval vessels and two helicopters to rescue the marines, but the high waves hampered rescue efforts.

“The Royal Thai Navy attempted to salvage the Sukhothai Royal Navy ship, but the emergency situation could not be resolved due to the strong winds,” it said on Twitter.

The RTN added that it will focus on the safety of the marines as its top priority. The search was being conducted in a 16-square kilometer (10-square mile) area around the site of the sinking.

Thailand’s Meteorological Department had issued a weather advisory for the general area just a few hours before the accident, saying that waves in the Gulf of Thailand were expected to be 2 to 4 meters (7 to 13 feet) high with thundershowers. It suggested that all ships “proceed with caution” and warned small craft not to go to sea until Tuesday.

The Sukhothai was built in Tacoma, Washington, and commissioned in 1987. With a maximum displacement of 959 tons and a length of 76.8 meters (252 feet), it is about midsize for a corvette, a type of armed vessel that typically is used for patrolling close offshore waters.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.