Three bodies of navy sailors from sunken HTMS Sukhothai were found in the southern province of Chumphon, while five of their fellow seamen from the corvette remained missing yesterday.
Navy spokesman Adm Pokkrong Monthatpalin said yesterday one of the bodies was seen on Koh Samet in Muang district of Chumphon. Another was spotted on Koh Ngam Yai also in Muang district, and the third body was found near Koh Samet.
Also yesterday, scuba divers reached the sunken HTMS Sukhothai, which lay on the seabed about 40 metres underwater off Bang Saphan district, Prachuap Khiri Khan. They inspected the damage and are planning the next steps.
Speaking earlier about the first find, V/Adm Pichai Lorchusakul, commander of the 1st Region of the Royal Thai Navy, said the body would be taken to a search centre in Bang Saphan district in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, where it would undergo an autopsy and be identified. "His clothing indicated he was a crew member on the ship," he said.
V/Adm Pichai said search teams were combing all islands in the area, including Sak, Maphraw, Sawa and Ka islands. The islands are located off the mouth of the Chumphon River in Muang district. "Searchers will check all islands in the area," he said.
More than 50 search teams have been patrolling beaches on the mainland and islands from Prachuap Khiri Khan to Chumphon and Surat Thani provinces for the missing crew from the corvette, which went down in a storm in the Gulf off Bang Saphan, Prachuap Khiri Khan, on Dec 18. The search teams consist of navy personnel, rescue volunteers, officials from other agencies and residents.
