23 missing after Vietnamese ship sinks in South China Sea

Rescuers are urgently searching for 23 missing individuals after a Vietnamese cargo ship, the Khoi Nguyen 18, sank in the South China Sea. The vessel was carrying a total of 62 crew members when it encountered trouble near Yongshu Reef, also known as Fiery Cross Reef.

Chinese state media reported that 39 people have been rescued so far. A Chinese rescue vessel initially detected a distress signal from the ship shortly before 6:30 p.m. on Saturday. The search operation involves six Chinese vessels, a rescue helicopter, and one Vietnamese vessel.

The Khoi Nguyen 18 is a Vietnamese-registered ship measuring just under 70 meters in length, according to authorities in China's Hainan province. Vietnam's foreign ministry has not yet responded to requests for comment.

The incident occurs in a region where China asserts claims over nearly the entire South China Sea, despite an international ruling against the legal basis of these claims. Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Taiwan also have competing claims to parts of this busy waterway, which is believed to hold significant oil and gas reserves.