A rescue team searching for a missing air force helicopter and its three-man crew are confident they have pinpointed the site where the chopper went down after looking at photos taken by a drone.
Authorities say the aerial photos show what appears to be a cluster of felled trees in Chanthaburi's mountainous jungle, suggesting it is the spot where the helicopter went down on Saturday.
The photo was taken near a cliff in tambon Phawa, about 4km away from the rescuers' current location, according to officers, and the place where villagers say they heard a loud crash.
Bad weather and tough terrain slowed down the rescue mission on the weekend, prompting the team to use the camera-equipped drone to survey the suspected crash site located deep inside the jungle.
The area in question was identified by local villagers as where they say they heard a loud noise near a cliff. They immediately began scouring the area late on Saturday afternoon.
The officers have set up an ad-hoc operation command in tambon Phawa municipality in Khaeng Hang Maew district to ensure a more systematic emergency response.
The command has, since Sunday, mobilised 300 rescuers comprising army and navy soldiers, officials from Khao Chamao-Kha Wong National Park, and villagers, to search for Sqn Ldr Pasith Techasen, the pilot, Capt Alongkorn Chankrachang, the co-pilot, and Sgt Maj Visut Puttharaksa, the mechanic.
It is imperative the helicopter and crew are found as soon as possible, air force chief-of-staff Chom Rungsawang said Monday.
"The sky has opened up a bit this morning," he said, trying to remain optimistic on day three of the search.
The mission on Sunday, backed by two helicopters from Lop Buri Wing 2, was called off due to the threat of torrential rainfall.
On Monday, the army joined the search with Black Hawk and MI 17 helicopters as well as 42 soldiers from its special operation unit, said deputy army spokesman Col Sirichan Ngathong.
The ground search is a vital part of the mission as the bad weather remains a barrier to the search for helicopters. The team was able to stay overnight in the forest, allowing them to resume the search as quickly as possible, ACM Chom said.
Soldiers have been ordered to "comb every square inch of the area from the mountain top", said ACM Chom.
The mountain is Khao Chamao. The Huey helicopter was carrying food supplies from Don Mueang airport in Bangkok to a radar station on the mountain when it is believed to have gone down.
The chopper disappeared from the radar about 2pm last Saturday, alerting the air force.
"I prayed for the two pilots and mechanic to survive," Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said after learning of the news.