Search continues for 6 missing trawler crewmembers

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

A SEARCH AND RESCUE mission for six missing crewmembers of a capsized trawler in the sea near Koh Chang island off Trat has been conducted for a fifth day today (Dec.25).

The six crewmembers were believed to have been swept away from Koh Chang island by strong winds and high tides after their fishing boat, named Sirawit Namchok, had capsized and sunk between two islets on Thursday, officials said.

A navy helicopter flew over a 30 nautical mile radius over a stormy sea but has not as yet found the missing crewmembers, believed to have carried some life-saving gear aboard.

Divers have only found four bags, presumably owned by the missing crewmembers, floating in the sea.

However, the search and rescue mission is to be continued tomorrow, they said.

Meanwhile, another search and rescue mission has been conducted for a couple of missing persons after a boat on which they had ridden capsized in the sea near Surin Islands in the Andaman Sea off Phang Nga on Saturday.

The missing persons, a British female diver and a Thai woman crewmember, have not been found in the search and rescue mission as yet.

They were among a dozen divers and crewmembers of the capsized boat.

CAPTION:

Rescuers and divers searching for the six missing trawler crewmembers near Koh Chang. Top photo: Naewna, below and Front Page: Thai Rath