A fishing boat capsized in rough seas in Rayong province early this morning, causing seven crewmen to fall into the sea but were rescued later, while the captain, 56, remained missing.
Thai Enforcement Marine officers and Rayong rescue services assisted seven crewmen of a fishing boat, Saeng Prateep 9, that capsized in a wave-tossed sea off Koh Chan in Rayong province’s Mueang district at 1:00 AM today.
The seven exhausted crewmen were rescued after being adrift in the rough water for 2 hours. The survivors included,
- Mr. Nai, 35, Vietnamese
- Mr. Heng Suu, 30, Burmese
- Mr. Nanwin, 40, Burmese
- Mr. Winnaithun, 35, Burmese
- Mr. Yasim U, 30, Burmese
- Mr. Kim So, 30, Burmese
- Mr. Su, 30, Burmese
All were safely taken ashore and rushed to Rayong Hospital to recover. However, the 56-year-old Thai captain, Mr. Arunsak Chuakhonman, was still nowhere to be found as of press time. Rescue officers suspected that the man might have been trapped in the boat and sunk with it.
Mr. Nanwin, one of the Burmese survivors, told local media that his boat was struck by large waves before it capsized. The weather was also inclement with strong winds and heavy rain, Nanwin added.
17 boats and several rescue teams are still in search of the missing captain today despite the stormy conditions.
Source: Pattaya News