Rescue efforts continue for missing Vietnamese sailors in South China Sea

World News

Rescue efforts continue for missing Vietnamese sailors in South China Sea

49 minutes ago

News sources:

CHANNELNEWSASIA

INDIATIMES

ALJAZEERA

Rescue efforts continue for missing Vietnamese sailors in South China Sea

Credited from: CHANNELNEWSASIA

23 Vietnamese sailors are missing after their vessel, Khoi Nguyen 18, sank in the South China Sea.
39 individuals have been rescued as search operations involve multiple vessels and a helicopter.
The incident occurred near Fiery Cross Reef in the contested Spratly Islands area.
China and Vietnam are collaborating on the search efforts, highlighting regional tensions in the area.

Rescue operations are currently underway for 23 Vietnamese sailors who are missing after their cargo vessel, the Khoi Nguyen 18, sank in the South China Sea. The ship, which had 62 Vietnamese nationals aboard, encountered distress near Fiery Cross Reef and was reported to have sent a distress flare on Saturday evening, prompting rescue teams to respond, according to Channel News Asia and India Times.

As of the latest updates, 39 individuals have been successfully rescued, with the search involving six Chinese vessels, a rescue helicopter, and assistance from a Vietnamese ship, as reported by Al Jazeera and India Times.

The Khoi Nguyen 18 is a nearly 70-metre long vessel with a gross tonnage of 999 tons. The incident occurred in an area known for overlapping territorial claims by multiple nations, including China and Vietnam. Both countries have significant interests in the resource-rich waters of the Spratly Islands, which have led to heightened regional tensions, as detailed in reports by Channel News Asia and Al Jazeera.