BANGKOK, Dec 21: There is little hope the 24 Thai marines still missing after
their Sukhothai warship suffered an engine malfunction and went down on Sunday
night in rough weather will survive.
Soon after the corvette had sunk in the Gulf of Thailand 20 nautical miles
off the coast overnight in bad weather, a rescue mission saved 75 of the 105
who were on board. The navy said the earlier reported figure of 106 on board
was incorrect because one sailor had failed to board.
The military mobilised five planes, six helicopters and four warships on Monday
to look for the 30 marines who were missing. Those missing had abandoned the
sinking ship without life jackets in the rough seas.
Officials acknowledged there were not enough life jackets for all those aboard,
according to an AFP report. Survivors also told Thai television not all got
the jackets. Besides, the mother of one of the sailors had told her on phone
when the ship was going down that there was no life jacket available for him.
He is among those missing.
The US-built HTMS Sukhothai had tilted to one side lashed by four-metre waves
and strong winds in bad weather and was soon flooded with seawater and went
down offshore Prachuap Khiri Khan province.
By Tuesday five bodies were recovered and one more marine was rescued. Twenty
four are still unaccounted for. Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Chonlathis Navanugraha
said the survivor and the five bodies, along with some debris, were found about
37 miles from where the ship sank. The survivor was identified as Chananyu Kansriya.
He was found floating on Tuesday afternoon by a passing cargo ship.
The search area has now been expanded to 40 sq km. The navy ruled out survival
beyond two days in the water without aid. Relatives of those missing are still
waiting on the shore in the hope that their loved ones will return.
The navy expressed concern that the fuel from the ship could spill into the
Gulf of Thailand. Therefore, efforts are being made to salvage the corvette
quickly, it said. The warship had been in service since 1987.
Thailand's Meteorological Department had warned all ships before the mishap
of rough weather and 7-14 feet high waves, and not to venture out.
