Video Shows Scary Moment Before Thai Warship Sinks; Possible Reason for Sea Tragedy Revealed

On Monday, a Royal Thai Navy warship manufactured in the United States sunk in the Gulf of Thailand, prompting an hours-long search by helicopters hunting for at least 30 missing servicemen.

Seventy-five sailors have already been rescued from the HTMS Sukothai, a corvette originally constructed in Tacoma, Washington. The waves in the gulf were allegedly more than 3 meters, or around 10 feet, in height.

Thai Navy Searches Missing Marines After Warship Sinks

The ship set sail despite warnings of severe weather and seas of up to 4 meters. One rescued sailor informed Thai media that he drifted in the ocean for three hours prior to being rescued.

Rescuers reported that the huge waves make it nearly difficult to search for sailors laterally, necessitating the use of helicopters equipped with spotlights to seek from above. According to reports, powerful gusts and waves poured water over the ship's deck, disabling its electrical system.

With the ship's power out, the crew was unable to pump water from the vessel, causing it to list severely and eventually sink. In 1987, the Sukothai was commissioned with a length of 252 feet and a water displacement of 959 tons. After rescue attempts conclude, the Thai government intends to recover everything possible from the ship, Fox News reported.

The electrical system of the 252-foot-long (76.8-meter-long) corvette HTMS Sukhothai was shut down as a result of seawater entering an exhaust pipe, according to a Thai navy statement. According to the report, the electrical failure rendered the ship's primary power systems inoperable, leaving the crew unable to maneuver or pump out seawater that had entered the hull.

More than three hours were spent attempting to transfer pumps from other navy boats responding to the incident to the Sukhothai, according to the statement. "At 12:12 a.m. on Monday, the Sukhothai tiled further and eventually sunk," the report stated.

Royal Thai Navy Warship Sinks During Severe Weather

The heavy weather in the Gulf of Thailand, around 20 miles (32 kilometers) from the Bang Saphan District in the province of Prachuap Khiri Khan, lasted into late Monday morning, hindering search operations for the missing crew, according to police.

In 1987, the 960-ton Sukhothai was commissioned into the Thai navy after being constructed in the United States. Carl Schuster, a retired US Navy captain, stated that the Thai crew on such an aged ship faced a difficult scenario.

"Once the power goes off, everything must be accomplished using portable diesel pumps and buckets," he stated. For an almost 40-year-old, tiny ship in rough seas, the odds are stacked against success, as per CNN.

Images sent to the Thai Navy's Twitter account depict the ferry listing on its side and rescue ships searching for survivors in turbulent waters. Three navy vessels and helicopters were dispatched to assist, but only the cruiser HTMS Kraburi arrived before the ship sunk.

According to the navy, the frigate took up the majority of the Sukhothai's crew. On the ocean and on life rafts, life vest-wearing sailors were spotted. The navy has provided minimal information on their status. Local media shared images of the medical staff at the pier transporting crew members on stretchers.

Per BBC, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha issued a statement confirming an investigation into the accident. "I am keenly monitoring the news - around five individuals are in critical condition," he stated.