SATTAHIP, Thailand – One more crew member was rescued from the sea on September 22 after the fishing boat Sor Kanchanawari 888 sank off Samae San in Sattahip district, Chonburi, bringing the number of people rescued to 16. Fifteen crew members who had already been rescued were brought ashore at the Samae San fishing pier during the afternoon. Rescue workers from Sawang Rojanatham Foundation carried out initial medical checks before the crew members were taken to Queen Sirikit Naval Hospital for further examination.
Later in the evening, another fishing boat involved in the search found a crew member identified as Yee Sin floating in the sea. He was pulled safely aboard and was being brought back to shore. Five crew members remain missing. They are identified as Myanmar nationals Soe Lat, 38; San Htike, 47; Naing Oo, 45; Htun Lwin, 22; and Khin Maung Aye, 47.
Initial information indicated that two of the five missing crew members may be trapped inside the sunken vessel and may have died, although their identities and deaths have not yet been confirmed. The whereabouts of the other three remain unknown. The search around the wreck was suspended temporarily after darkness fell, with officials citing safety concerns for the underwater operation. Fishing boats remained at the site overnight with their lights on to monitor the area.
The operation will resume on September 23, with a special operations team from the Royal Thai Navy’s First Naval Area, including personnel from the Naval Special Warfare Command, or Navy SEALs, together with Patrol Vessel 112 and the Sawang Rojanatham Foundation’s water-rescue team. Before underwater operations begin, teams will assess weather conditions, currents and other safety factors. Once the suspected victims inside the vessel have been recovered, authorities plan to assess how to salvage Sor Kanchanawari 888 and bring it back ashore. The vessel will then be examined to help determine the cause of the sinking and assess whether repairs are possible.
