Survivor rescued as Thai navy continues search for 29 sailors

BANGKOK - One sailor was found alive Tuesday in the Gulf of Thailand after two nights at sea following the sinking of a naval vessel, giving hope to the families of over two dozen still missing.

In total, 76 sailors from the HTMS Sukhothai have been hauled from the sea after the vessel went down late Sunday roughly 37 kilometres off the country's southeastern coast.

Rescuers in helicopters, two planes, and four vessels -- the HTMS Kraburi, HTMS Angthong, HTMS Naresuan and HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej -- were scanning the turbulent waters for 29 missing sailors, the navy said. 

Naval commander Pichai Lorchusakul confirmed on Tuesday afternoon they had found, in good health, 23-year-old Chananyu Gansriya, from Loei province.

"I believe that this is good news that we could find more people," he said, adding that Chananyu was being cared for onboard HTMS Angthong.

Earlier, another naval officer, Narong Khumburi, expressed hope that survivors would be discovered as they have "life vests".

"But I imagine they must be exhausted."

Efforts to find the missing crew were focused on aerial searches, with the Royal Thai airforce assisting the operation, which has been affected by strong winds.

 Electrical fault 

The vessel -- a corvette, the smallest type of military warship -- is believed to have run into trouble after its electronics system was damaged, according to the navy.

Parts of southern Thailand have been hit by storms and flooding in recent days.

A warning from the Thai meteorological office remained in place Tuesday, with strong winds causing rough conditions in the Gulf of Thailand.

Seafarers were cautioned to be careful, and small boats were advised to stay ashore.

The HTMS Sukhothai was commissioned in 1987 and built in the United States by the now-defunct Tacoma Boatbuilding Company, according to the US Naval Institute.