Crewman dead: A crewman drowned and a second is still missing after a fishing trawler with six crew members sank in stormy seas off Pattani Bay early on Friday.
The body of crew member Pramote Wongsuwan, 47, washed ashore at Yaring’s tambon Laem Pho at 11am. Another worker, Chalong Chanthana, 51, was reported still missing at press time.
The four remaining crew – captain Surin Bintuan, 41, and workers Santhat Matchamonthon, 44, Prachak Sararat, 48, Theerayuth Khunprabat, 34 – were rescued after the boat capsized in huge waves as tropical storm Pabuk hit Pattani’s Yaring district at 3am.
The 40-ton Chok Malinee fishing trawler was on the way to Songkhla when they heard the radio warning of the incoming storm and made a U-turn to seek refuge at the bay along with another 30 boats.
As the storm’s outer band hit Pattani, the trawler, anchored one kilometre offshore, capsized and quickly sunk.
