Strong waves battered beach parasols during storms in southern Thailand that caused a navy warship to sink with 31 sailours still missing at sea.

Footage shows the powerful wind blowing away bamboo umbrellas and swings along the coast of Songkhla province on Sunday, December 18.

The footage was recorded shortly before HTMS Sukhothai was hit by four-meter-high waves and sank off the coast of Prachuap Khiri Khan later that evening.

Navy officials said that 31 of the 106 crew onboard the vessel, a Rattanakosin class corvette, remained missing. Air and sea rescue operations are still ongoing across the Gulf of Thailand on Tuesday, December 20.

Thailand's Meteorological Department warned of 'four metre high waves' battering regions along the eastern-facing coastline.

Officials said the storms and heavy rain would continue until December 20 in Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat along the border with Malaysia. There was also severe floods across the provinces.

Several ships were affected, with nine crew from a cargo ship rescued when it sank and an oil tanker also beached.