PHUKET: A Royal Thai Navy rescue vessel plucked two expat sailors to safety from a Phuket-bound yacht that was struck by a powerful storm off the Andaman coast early this morning.
An SOS from the yacht Aqua was picked up by the Navy about 1.45am, a Third Navy spokesman said. The Navy braved rough conditions to put to sea and lifted the two men from the yacht.
Gionata Bellagamba, 34, from Italy and Luke Lockyer, 30, from South Africa, reached safety in La-ngu, Satun, about 8am.
The yacht was on its way from Langkawi in Malaysia to Phuket, the navy spokesperson said.
Three-metre waves battered the vessel. The yacht was put under tow when the sailors were rescued.
Meteorologists have reinforced warnings for small boats not to put to sea tomorrow from Phuket or other Andaman ports because of strong winds and high seas. Storms are likely to continue for the rest of the week.
An SOS from the yacht Aqua was picked up by the Navy about 1.45am, a Third Navy spokesman said. The Navy braved rough conditions to put to sea and lifted the two men from the yacht.
Gionata Bellagamba, 34, from Italy and Luke Lockyer, 30, from South Africa, reached safety in La-ngu, Satun, about 8am.
The yacht was on its way from Langkawi in Malaysia to Phuket, the navy spokesperson said.
Three-metre waves battered the vessel. The yacht was put under tow when the sailors were rescued.
Meteorologists have reinforced warnings for small boats not to put to sea tomorrow from Phuket or other Andaman ports because of strong winds and high seas. Storms are likely to continue for the rest of the week.
