At least 23 missing after Vietnamese ship sinks in South China Sea: Chinese state media
A Vietnamese cargo ship sank in the South China Sea near the Fiery Cross Reef, leaving 23 crew members missing. Chinese and Vietnamese vessels are currently conducting a joint search and rescue operation in the disputed waters.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the ongoing maritime tensions in the South China Sea, where multiple nations have overlapping territorial claims.
Rescuers are searching for 23 missing people after a Vietnamese ship carrying 62 crew members sank in the South China Sea, Chinese state media reported on Sunday (July 26, 20260 morning.
The cargo vessel Khoi Nguyen 18 encountered trouble near Yongshu Reef, also known as Fiery Cross Reef, state broadcaster CCTV reported, adding that 39 people had been rescued.
A Chinese rescue vessel first spotted what was believed to be a distress signal from the endangered ship shortly before 6:30 pm on Saturday (1030 GMT), state news agency Xinhua said.
Six Chinese vessels and a rescue helicopter as well as one Vietnamese vessel were conducting search and rescue operations in the area, Xinhua said.
According to authorities in the Chinese island province of Hainan, the Khoi Nguyen 18 is a Vietnamese-registered ship measuring just under 70 metres in length, Xinhua added.
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