The Saudi Coast Guard have intensified their search in the Red Sea coastal area of Shoaibah for a sailor from Thailand who has been missing since Thursday when the boat he was in sank due to the rough weather conditions prevailing at the weekend.

“Coast Guard boats and a helicopter have been dispatched to search for the missing person in the Red Sea. In addition, on Sunday we included a second helicopter in the search operation for the missing Thailand national,” Col. Naji Al-Juhani, spokesperson of the Saudi Coast Guard in Makkah region said on Sunday.

According to the Al-Juhani, five people including the Thai sailor were sailing in a boat near the Babur area in the Red Sea, 7 miles west of Shoaiba on Thursday when stormy weather conditions caused the boat, Al-Panjar 6873, to sink.

He said that after the Coast Guard was notified of the accident, patrol teams reached the spot and rescued four members of the boat. “There was one Saudi, one Syrian, one Yemeni and one Palestinian,” Al-Juhani said.

The official said that the Coast Guard teams have been searching for the missing sailor deploying all the latest equipment used in air and water search operations.