BANGKOK, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Three army privates were reported missing after a boat capsized in a river in northern Thailand on Tuesday.

According to 38th Army Circle commander Maj. Gen. Thawat Srisawang, the three army privates were swept away from the long barge which capsized just before noon in the fast-flowing Nan River in the northern province of Nan.

They were among a crew of 49 rowers of the barge, all soldiers of the 38th Army Circle.

The soldiers were practicing for a traditional boat race scheduled later this month, when the boat capsized, sending all the rowers overboard. Most of them drifted along the fast-flowing and whirling river and managed to swim or were rescued to safety. Three of the rowers who made it to the river bank were injured and rushed to hospital.

Two of the three missing soldiers were not good at swimming, while the other, who was believed to have tried in vain to help them, also went missing, the army general said.

A search and rescue mission was underway from Tuesday afternoon until evening and will resume on Wednesday morning.