Thai navy searching for 31 missing sailors after ship sank

By TASSANEE VEJPONGSA and CHALIDA EKVITTHAYAVECHNUKUL
Associated Press

BANGKOK (AP) — Thai navy ships and helicopters are searching for more than 30 sailors still missing more than 12 hours after their warship sank in rough seas in the Gulf of Thailand. The navy says 75 sailors have been rescued and 31 are still missing. The HTMS Sukhothai corvette sank Sunday night after strong winds blew seawater on board and knocked out the ship’s electrical system. The loss of power allowed more seawater to flow into the vessel, causing it to list and sink. Three frigates and two helicopters were conducting the search and rescue operations. The high waves have lessened since the sinking but are still high enough to endanger small boats.