SAMAESAN, CHON BURI: Fifteen crew members have been rescued after the fishing vessel S. Kanchanawaree 888 sank at sea, officials said Tuesday, while three people were confirmed dead and four remain missing.
The boat was carrying 22 people, two Thai nationals and 20 Myanmar crew members, when it went down around 10 p.m. Monday, according to Prasert Pitakkorn, mayor of Samaesan Subdistrict and president of the Samaesan Channel Fishing Association. The association was notified of the incident at about 5 a.m. Tuesday.
Nearby fishing boats reached the scene and pulled 15 survivors from the water. Search teams later recovered three bodies, though only one could be brought aboard because of rough seas. That victim was identified as Wichan Ma-iang, 46. The other two bodies remain in the water as of press time.
Fishing boats were heading back to Samaesan in Sattahip District, Chon Buri, with the 15 survivors and the recovered body. They were expected to arrive around 3 p.m. today.
The First Naval Area Command dispatched patrol boat Tor.112, an anti-submarine helicopter and navy divers to support the search. Nearby fishing vessels were also asked to help look for the four missing crew members.
Chon Buri MP Thanathan Pramoonpong, who represents Sattahip, was monitoring the rescue operation.
Officials said the sinking occurred at approximately 11 degrees 56.93 minutes north, 100 degrees 50.30 minutes east, about 40 nautical miles from the peak of Laem Pu Chao. The cause of the sinking is still under investigation. Search operations for the four missing people were continuing.