BEIJING, Rescue teams are searching for 17 missing crew members after a Vietnamese cargo vessel sank near Fiery Cross Reef (Yongshu Reef) in the disputed South China Sea, while 45 people have been rescued, according to Chinese state media.
China Central Television (CCTV) reported that the Vietnamese-registered cargo ship Khoi Nguyen 18 encountered distress near Fiery Cross Reef in the Nansha (Spratly) Islands on Saturday evening. The vessel was carrying 62 Vietnamese nationals at the time of the incident.
According to Chinese authorities, the rescue operation began after the Chinese rescue vessel Nanhai Jiu 115, operated by the Nanhai Rescue Bureau under China’s Ministry of Transport, detected an emergency distress flare at approximately 6:23 p.m. local time.
The rescue vessel later discovered a liferaft carrying 29 survivors about 38 nautical miles north of Fiery Cross Reef. Subsequent rescue missions increased the total number of people rescued to 45, leaving 17 crew members still unaccounted for.
Chinese officials said two rescue ships, one rescue helicopter, and additional maritime assets remain engaged in the search operation. Earlier reports also indicated that multiple Chinese vessels and a Vietnamese rescue ship were participating in the mission.
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The Khoi Nguyen 18 is a Vietnamese-registered cargo vessel measuring 69.9 meters in length, 10.8 meters in width, with a gross tonnage of 999.
Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Vietnamese authorities established immediate contact with relevant agencies after the accident and dispatched emergency response teams to the area.
A ministry spokesperson said Vietnam appreciated the assistance provided by Chinese search-and-rescue forces and nearby vessels, adding that both countries are coordinating efforts to locate the missing crew members.
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The cause of the sinking has not yet been officially determined. Authorities from both countries continue to monitor the operation as rescue efforts remain underway in one of the world’s busiest and most strategically significant waterways.
