Search continues after Vietnamese cargo vessel sinks in South China Sea

A multinational search and rescue operation continued on Monday after a Vietnamese cargo vessel carrying 62 people sank in severe weather in the South China Sea, with Vietnamese authorities confirming that 48 people have been rescued while search teams continue looking for those still missing.

According to Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the vessel Khôi Nguyên 18 sank on 25 July while operating in adverse weather conditions in waters that Vietnam refers to as the East Sea.

As of the afternoon of 27 July, Vietnamese authorities said 48 survivors had been rescued alive. Those rescued by Chinese authorities were transferred to Vietnamese officials, received medical treatment and are being transported back to the mainland.

Vietnam said search efforts remain underway despite high waves, strong winds and rough seas, which have made rescue operations extremely difficult.

Rescue operation expanded with international support

Vietnamese authorities said rescue forces were dispatched immediately after the vessel sank.

The search operation has involved Vietnamese rescue vessels, Chinese search and rescue ships and helicopters, nearby commercial vessels and fishing boats.

The Philippine Coast Guard also deployed a patrol vessel and an aircraft after receiving a request for assistance from Vietnam.

According to Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Phạm Thu Hằng, by Sunday afternoon 45 people had initially been rescued. The number later increased to 48 as rescue operations continued.

Authorities said families of those on board have been kept informed through regular updates while efforts continue to locate the remaining missing crew members.

"We sincerely appreciate the Chinese relevant forces' swift support for Việt Nam's search and rescue efforts and hope both sides will continue to work closely together to locate those who remain missing," Hằng said.

Philippine Coast Guard joins search

The Philippine Coast Guard said it was coordinating closely with Vietnam's coast guard to support the operation.

Coast Guard spokesperson Noemie Cayabyab said the agency was sharing operational information with Vietnamese authorities to help guide search efforts.

She said the Philippine Coast Guard was also using a search planning system to improve the chances of locating the missing crew members and had issued a navigational warning advising vessels transiting the area to maintain a lookout.

According to Philippine authorities, the operation is being conducted under international maritime agreements and bilateral cooperation between the Philippines and Vietnam.

Vessel sank near disputed Spratly Islands

According to the Associated Press, Khôi Nguyên 18 sank near Fiery Cross Reef, a Chinese-controlled artificial island and military outpost in the disputed Spratly Islands.

The South China Sea is claimed in whole or in part by several governments, including China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

Neither Vietnamese nor Philippine authorities linked the maritime accident to the territorial disputes, describing it as a search and rescue operation prompted by severe weather.

Chinese rescue teams recover survivors

Chinese rescue vessels and helicopters participated in the operation alongside Vietnamese rescue forces.

According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency, the rescue vessel Nanhai Jiu 115, operated by the Nanhai Rescue Bureau under China's Ministry of Transport, was among the first to detect distress signals from survivors drifting in life rafts.

Xinhua reported that rescue crews located survivors after spotting people waving clothing from a life raft before bringing them aboard rescue vessels. Chinese rescue helicopters were also used to transfer rescued crew members to Vietnamese vessels.

Rescue continues despite severe weather

Vietnamese authorities said rough seas and strong winds have continued to hamper search efforts.

Despite the adverse conditions, rescue forces from Vietnam, China and the Philippines, together with nearby fishing vessels, remain engaged in efforts to locate the remaining missing crew members.

Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said authorities remain committed to continuing the operation with "the highest determination" until the search is completed.