Royal Thai Navy ship sinks, 31 sailors still missing

Thai warships and helicopters were working to rescue 31 missing sailors after a navy ship sank in the Gulf of Thailand, the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) said on Monday.

A total of 106 crew were on board the corvette HTMS Sukhothai, which sank during a storm. By noon on Monday, 75 of them had been brought to safety, according to the RTN statement posted on its Twitter account.

Reports carried by some local media outlets on Monday saying "10 of the missing men had been found and one was dead" were denied by the navy, according to the Bangkok Post news agency.

The HTMS Sukhothai sank at around 00:12 a.m. local time Monday (1712 GMT Sunday), following a loss of power and consequently flooding of the ship, RTN spokesperson admiral Pokkrong Monthatpalin said.

The warship was on patrol 20 nautical miles from port in Bang Saphan district of Prachuap Khiri Khan province when strong waves caused water to enter the electrical systems, which resulted in a loss of power and control of the ship.

The RTN had dispatched three frigates and two helicopters with rescue equipment to the scene, but strong winds and waves prevented rescue efforts, according to the statement.

（Xinhua)