A multinational search and rescue operation is underway for 17 crew members missing after the Vietnamese cargo ship Khoi Nguyen 18 sank late Saturday near the Fiery Cross Reef in the disputed South China Sea. The vessel was carrying 62 people when it went down in bad weather.
Of the 62 individuals on board, 45 have been accounted for, but 17 remain missing. Vietnamese authorities confirmed the sinking and the ongoing search efforts.
The Philippine Coast Guard has deployed a patrol vessel and an aircraft to assist in the search, responding to a request from Vietnam. Chinese rescue ships and helicopters, along with other vessels in the vicinity, have also joined the operation. Vietnamese fishing vessels have been mobilized to aid in the search, and families of those on board have been notified.
The Philippine Coast Guard is coordinating with its Vietnamese counterpart to gather necessary operational information. The agency is utilizing a search planning system to enhance the chances of locating the missing crew and has issued a navigational warning to alert ships in the area to remain vigilant and offer assistance if safe.
This collaborative rescue effort is being conducted under international maritime agreements and bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and the Philippines. Vietnam's Foreign Ministry expressed gratitude for China's prompt assistance and voiced hope for the safe recovery of the remaining crew.
The South China Sea is a strategically vital waterway, with approximately $5 trillion in global trade transiting annually. China has been increasingly assertive in claiming sovereignty over most of the sea, which is also believed to hold substantial undersea oil and gas reserves. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan all maintain overlapping claims in the region.