Fishing Boat Sinks in South China Sea, 3 Missing; Rescue Efforts Underway

A fishing boat from Vietnam's central Quang Ngai province sank in the South China Sea near the Spratly Islands due to severe weather, leaving three crew members missing. Rescue operations are ongoing. The vessel, over 20 meters long with a 525 horsepower engine, was captained by Tran Van Dan, 58, from Binh Son commune. The 36 crew members had departed from the Binh Thanh Border Guard Post on June 4th for squid fishing in the Spratly Islands waters. Around 8 AM on July 24th, while en route to Truong Sa Lon Island to avoid bad weather, the boat encountered strong gales and heavy rain, leading to flooding and its subsequent sinking. The fishermen were forced to abandon the vessel and were adrift at sea. Unable to contact her husband, the captain's wife reported the incident to the Binh Thanh Border Guard Post and the Quang Ngai Provincial Border Guard Command. At approximately 9 PM, 13 hours after the accident, a fishing boat captained by Nguyen Huu Loc, 53, reached the group of fishermen approximately 27 km west of the sinking site. This vessel rescued 33 individuals, but the whereabouts of three fishermen remain unknown. The rescued crew are being transported to Da Tay Island, and Mr. Loc's vessel is continuing to coordinate with search forces for the missing. The incident occurred in an area experiencing strong southwesterly winds of level 5-6, with gusts up to level 7-8, causing rough seas. The Quang Ngai Provincial Border Guard Command has notified fishing vessels operating near the area to assist in the search and has requested the participation of the Naval Region 4 Command, the Regional IV Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center, and other relevant units in the rescue operation.