A large-scale international search-and-rescue operation remains underway in the South China Sea after a Vietnamese cargo ship sank during severe weather. Dozens of people have been rescued, but several of those onboard are still missing.
The Vietnamese general cargo vessel Khoi Nguyen 18 went down near Fiery Cross Reef amid rough seas and strong winds. According to the latest reports, 48 people have been rescued, while 14 remain missing.
The rescue effort involves Chinese Coast Guard units and rescue vessels, Vietnamese naval ships and aircraft, as well as the Philippine Coast Guard, which deployed a patrol vessel and an aircraft at Hanoi’s request. Most survivors were found aboard a life raft after a Chinese rescue ship responded to a distress signal.
Built in 2017, the Khoi Nguyen 18 was a 1,911-deadweight-ton (DWT) general cargo vessel. Authorities have not disclosed details about its cargo or destination, nor have they explained why 62 people were onboard the relatively small ship.
The exact cause of the sinking has not yet been determined. Vietnamese authorities currently attribute the accident to the severe weather conditions that affected the area at the time of the incident.
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