Vietnamese Vessel Sinks in South China Sea, 23 Missing

A Vietnamese vessel carrying 62 crew members sank in the South China Sea on Sunday morning. Rescue teams are currently searching for 23 people who remain missing.

The cargo ship Khoi Nguyen 18 encountered trouble near Yongshu Reef, also known as Fiery Cross Reef. State broadcaster CCTV reported that 39 people have been rescued.

A Chinese rescue vessel first spotted what was believed to be a distress signal from the stricken ship shortly before 6.30 pm on Saturday, according to state news agency Xinhua.

Xinhua reported that six Chinese vessels, a rescue helicopter, and one Vietnamese vessel are conducting search and rescue operations in the area.

According to authorities in the island province of Hainan, China, the Khoi Nguyen 18 is a Vietnamese-registered vessel measuring less than 70 metres in length.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to a request for comment from AFP.

China claims nearly the entirety of the South China Sea, despite an international ruling that its claim lacks legal basis. Vietnam, along with the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Taiwan, has competing claims over areas of the busy waterway, including the Spratly Islands, which are believed to hold abundant oil and gas resources.