Sattahip fishing boat sinking leaves 3 dead, 4 missing

Three lives were lost and four others remain unaccounted for following the sinking of a fishing boat off Sattahip in Chon Buri. The Thai navy swiftly mobilized a patrol vessel, a helicopter, and special operations teams to conduct a search for the missing crew. The vessel in question, the Sor Kanchanawaree 888, carried a crew of 22 when it tragically capsized.

Of the 22, 15 were successfully rescued, leaving seven initially reported as missing. Initial reports indicated that the captain was among those who perished, though official confirmation of their identities is pending. The incident occurred around 40 nautical miles from Laem Pu Chao, with the navy's First Naval Area Command operations centre receiving an alert from the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre Region 1.

The search efforts were bolstered by additional patrol vessels, an anti-submarine helicopter, special operations personnel, and maritime rescue equipment. Fishing boats already operating in the vicinity also contributed to the search. The exact cause of the sinking remains under investigation, with early reports suggesting strong winds and waves in the Samae San area at the time of the incident.

Meteorological forecasts predict worsening marine conditions in the upper Gulf of Thailand, with wave heights expected to exceed 3 meters during thunderstorms. The search for the remaining four crew members continues both by sea and air, with the navy emphasizing that the death toll is still preliminary as further details and identities are being verified.