At least 33 crew members of a Thai warship are still missing after a Royal Thai Navy corvette sank in the Gulf of Thailand.
The HTMS Sukhothai warship experienced an engine failure and went down at around 11:30 pm around 20 nautical miles off the shore, in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, south of the capital Bangkok.
According to naval spokesman Admiral Pogkrong Monthardpalin, the Sukhothai, a US-built corvette in service since 1987, was hit by powerful waves on Sunday, causing it to lean to one side and fill with water.
The navy said water had flown into the electrical system causing electricity outages and major machines to stop working.
Three naval warships and two helicopters were instantly dispatched to find the missing.
Royal Thai Navy said strong wind waves are causing a disturbance in the rescue operation.
Thai navy reported that 73 of the 106 persons on board were saved after an overnight rescue mission in heavy weather, with the remaining 33 being forced to abandon ship.
Out of 73 that are rescued 11 are being treated.
