Vietnamese Cargo Ship Sinks in South China Sea; 45 Rescued, Search Continues

The Vietnamese cargo ship Khôi Nguyên 18 sank in the South China Sea amidst severe weather conditions. Of the 62 crew members on board, at least 45 have been rescued. Pham Thu Hang, spokesperson for the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that Vietnamese authorities immediately coordinated with Chinese rescue forces and nearby vessels to conduct urgent search and rescue operations at the scene. As of noon on July 26, 45 crew members had been saved. Rescue forces and fishing boats are actively searching for the remaining individuals and are prepared to provide timely rescue assistance. Relevant authorities have informed the victims' families of the situation and are continuously updating them on the search progress and future measures for safe repatriation. Ms. Hang expressed gratitude for the swift assistance from Chinese rescue teams and hoped for continued close cooperation to find the remaining crew members. Khôi Nguyên 18, built in 2017, is a general cargo ship with a deadweight of over 1,900 tons and sails under the Vietnamese flag.