A Thai-flagged ship has run aground in Chumphon with an unknown number of sailors on board as rough weather hit almost the entire coast of the southern province on Sunday.
The 40-gross-tonne, 55-metre-long container vessel, Santad Samut 1, was washed inshore by three-metre-high waves and strong wind gusts about 300 metres from the coast of Ban Kor Son in tambon Tha Yang of Muang district late in the morning.
The First Navy Region has not been able to send in a ship to tow it back to sea as the strong waves and winds are not abating. If a salvage effort was made now, it might damage the vessel, Pol Maj Yothin Seehathip of Chumphon’s Marine Police Division said.
Pol Maj Yothin said authorities are still trying to find out how many people are on board the ship.
He said Santad Samut 1 was transporting 20 containers from Bangkok to Surat Thani but encountered engine problems en route and was anchored at the sea while repairs were being carried out. When the rough weather struck, it was unable to ride it out.
The rough weather was also affecting fishing villages and had felled trees along the coastline in six of Chumphon's eight districts since early morning, local media reported.