Vietnamese cargo ship sank in South China Sea; 18 missing
Search teams from China and Vietnam are looking for 18 Vietnamese nationals after a cargo vessel went down in the South China Sea.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
2 min read
At least 18 people were missing after a Vietnamese cargo ship sank in the South China Sea, Al Jazeera and Reuters reported Sunday. The search matters because 62 people were on board, and Chinese state broadcaster CGTN said all of those still unaccounted for are Vietnamese nationals.
Chinese and Vietnamese authorities were continuing rescue operations on Sunday, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters. CGTN reported that the vessel went down on Friday evening and that 44 people had been rescued by the time of the latest account.
What happened to the Vietnamese cargo ship?
CGTN said the cargo vessel had 62 people aboard when it sank on Friday evening. Chinese authorities became aware of the emergency on Saturday evening, about 24 hours later, after a distress flare was detected, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.
The ship was 70 metres, or about 230 feet, long and had a carrying capacity of up to 999 tonnes, according to the reports. No cause for the sinking was given.
China sent six vessels and a rescue helicopter to the area, Al Jazeera and Reuters reported. Vietnam also dispatched a ship to help with the operation.
Who is searching in the South China Sea?
The rescue effort involves both Chinese and Vietnamese authorities, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters. The missing people were described by CGTN as Vietnamese nationals.
The South China Sea is one of Asia’s busiest and most contested bodies of water. The reports did not specify the ship’s route, cargo or exact location when it sank.
Why is the South China Sea disputed?
The South China Sea is claimed in part by several governments, including China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters. Beijing claims most of the area and has built artificial islands and used naval patrols to strengthen its position, the reports said.
The Spratly Islands are also claimed by all six governments, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters. The island chain includes more than 100 small islands and may hold energy resources.
The search for the missing crew members was taking place against that broader backdrop, but the reports did not link the sinking to the territorial disputes. Authorities had reported rescues and deployments, while the status of the 18 missing people remained unresolved Sunday.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.