5 crew members of doomed HTMS Sukhothai still missing
There is still no sign of the HTMS Sukhothai’s five missing crew even after Royal Thai Navy (RTN) divers canvassed the eight islets off the coast of Chumphon province.
RTN reported on Tuesday evening that the islets checked were Khang Sua, Rang Ha, Phrao, Yor, Khee Nok, Rang Banthat, Khram and Phitak. Tuesday marked the 16th day of the search mission.
Navy Seals and divers have been checking the coasts, beaches, cervices and underwater areas of these islets for traces of the missing crew, but have turned up nothing, RTN said.
The warship sank some 20 nautical miles (32 kilometres) off the coast of Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Bang Saphan district on December 18 in stormy weather with 105 crew onboard.
So far, 76 members of the crew have been rescued and brought safely to shore, while 24 sailors have been declared dead and five missing. Since December 29, no bodies have been found.
Of those found, all have been identified except for one that is undergoing DNA testing process.
So far, 33 islets in the waters of Chumphon and Prachuap Khiri Khan provinces have been searched. The navy said the search mission will continue.
