23 Missing after Vietnamese Ship Sinks in South China Sea

Rescuers are actively searching for 23 individuals missing after a Vietnamese cargo vessel carrying 62 crew members sank in the South China Sea. Chinese state media reported the incident on Sunday morning. The cargo vessel, identified as Khoi Nguyen 18, encountered distress near Yongshu Reef, also known as Fiery Cross Reef, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The report confirmed that 39 people have been successfully rescued so far.

A Chinese rescue vessel first detected a potential distress signal from the ship shortly before 6:30 p.m. on Saturday (10:30 GMT), reported the state news agency Xinhua. Currently, six Chinese vessels and a rescue helicopter, along with one Vietnamese vessel, are engaged in search and rescue operations in the affected area. Authorities in China's Hainan island province stated that the Khoi Nguyen 18 is a Vietnamese-registered ship measuring just under 70 meters in length, as per Xinhua's report.

Vietnam's foreign ministry has not yet responded to requests for comment. Beijing asserts sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea, despite an international ruling deeming its claims to lack legal basis. Vietnam, alongside the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Taiwan, maintains competing claims over parts of this busy maritime route, including the Spratly Islands, which are believed to hold significant oil and gas reserves.