Thai navy searches for five missing Myanmar crew members after fishing boat sinks

CHONBURI — 23 September 2026, The Royal Thai Navy’s First Area Maritime Security Command has mobilized a special operations team and divers to search for five Myanmar crew members still missing after the fishing boat S. Kanchanawari 888 sank at sea.

The operation was launched after information emerged that some of the missing crew members may still be trapped inside the wreck.

The First Naval Area’s special operations team deployed personnel from the Naval Special Warfare Command, including Navy SEAL divers, together with diving teams from the Sawang Rojanatham Foundation in Sattahip and the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation in Pattaya.

The teams departed from Laem Thian pier at the Sattahip Naval Base in Chon Buri aboard patrol boat Tor 112 and headed for the location where S. Kanchanawari 888 sank. The journey is expected to take at least three hours.

Upon reaching the site, officials will assess weather conditions, sea currents, underwater visibility and the safety of the diving teams before deciding whether to deploy divers to inspect the vessel.

The divers will search the wreck for the missing crew and recover any bodies found inside.

The five missing Myanmar crew members are:

Soe Lat, 38
San Htike, 47
Naing Oo, 45
Htun Lwin, 22
Khin Maung Aye, 47

Authorities have not yet confirmed whether any of the missing men are inside the vessel. Officials will await the results of the diving operation.

After the search and inspection of the wreck are completed, authorities will plan to salvage S. Kanchanawari 888 and tow it back to shore. The vessel will then be examined as part of efforts to determine the cause of the sinking before further action is considered.