More than 70 sailors have been rescued in the Gulf of Thailand after one of the country’s warships was hit by strong winds.
The HTMS Sukhothai corvette was on sea patrol 20 miles from the pier in Bangsaphan district of Prachuap Khiri Khan province when bad weather struck.
The winds blew seawater onto the warship and knocked out its electrical system.
The Royal Thai Navy sent three frigates, HTMS Ang Thong HTMS Bhumibol HTMS Kraburi, and two helicopters with mobile pumping machines in an effort to remove the water.
But strong winds made the mission impossible.
As more seawater flowed towards the ship, it began to sink.
As of early Monday morning (UK time), the Navy said 75 sailors had been rescued, while boats and helicopters searched for a further 31 people still in the water.
Eleven people are currently being treated at the hospital.
Many of the sailors have been rescued. Photo: Royal Thai Navy
The navy posted photos of a group of people in orange vests sitting on a black inflatable raft, waves billowing around them in the dark.
Sukhothai was built in the US and has been in use since 1987.
Thailand has been experiencing extreme weather recently with the northern and central parts of the country experiencing the coldest temperatures of the year.
In the far south, there have been storms and flooding, prompting advisories for ships to stay ashore.
