Rescue Effort Continues After Vietnamese Cargo Ship Sinks

A large-scale international search and rescue operation is continuing in the South China Sea after the Vietnamese general cargo vessel Khoi Nguyen 18 sank during severe weather near Fiery Cross Reef.

Chinese maritime authorities said that by Monday morning, Chinese rescue teams had saved 47 Vietnamese nationals, while Vietnamese rescuers recovered one additional survivor. The two most recent survivors were located late Sunday by vessels from the China Coast Guard.

Earlier, Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that 45 of the 62 people on board had been rescued, leaving 17 still missing as of midday Sunday. Vietnamese officials said the vessel sank after encountering severe weather.

The initial group of survivors was found when the Chinese rescue ship Nanhai Jiu 115 detected a distress signal and located a life raft, rescuing 29 people. A total of 41 survivors were later transferred to the Vietnamese naval vessel *Truong Sa-01. *

The multinational rescue effort has involved Chinese rescue ships and helicopters, Vietnamese naval vessels and fishing boats. The Philippine Coast Guard also joined the operation, deploying the patrol vessel BRP Malapascua and an aircraft from Palawan after receiving a request for assistance from Vietnam.

Built in 2017, the Khoi Nguyen 18 is a 69.9-meter, 1,911-deadweight-ton general cargo ship registered in Vietnam.

Authorities have not disclosed the vessel’s cargo or intended destination, nor have they explained why 62 people were on board the relatively small coastal cargo ship. Apart from the severe weather reported by Vietnamese officials, the cause of the sinking has not yet been determined.