China Rescues 39 Sailors from Sunken Vietnamese Ship; 23 Still Missing

A Vietnamese vessel sank in the South China Sea on Friday night, carrying 62 crew members. Chinese rescue teams have successfully saved 39 sailors, but efforts are continuing to find the remaining 23 who are still missing. The incident occurred in waters near the Fiery Cross Reef, known in China as Yongshu Reef.

According to China's state television CCTV, the ship, identified as 'Nanhaijiu 115' and operated by the Ministry of Transport, spotted an emergency flare. Rescuers discovered two groups of life rafts adrift, leading to the rescue of 36 Vietnamese sailors. Later, on Sunday morning, three more survivors from the 'Khoi Nguyen 18' were found alive.

Despite these rescues, 23 individuals are still unaccounted for. The search and rescue operation is actively underway in the area. Six Chinese ships, a rescue helicopter, and one Vietnamese vessel are participating in the extensive search efforts, as reported by the official Xinhua news agency.

The exact cause of the sinking is not detailed in the provided information, but the ongoing rescue mission highlights the critical situation for the missing crew members. The collaborative effort between Chinese and Vietnamese maritime authorities underscores the urgency of the search.