Rescuers Search for Survivors After Vietnamese Vessel Sinks in South China Sea
Rescuers are actively searching for 23 individuals missing after a Vietnamese cargo vessel, Khoi Nguyen 18, sank in the South China Sea. The vessel, carrying 62 Vietnamese nationals, encountered distress near Fiery Cross Reef. A distress flare was initially spotted by the Chinese rescue ship Nanhai Jiu 115, prompting a coordinated rescue effort involving six Chinese vessels, a rescue helicopter, and a Vietnamese vessel. The incident occurred in the disputed Spratly Islands, an area claimed by China as the Nansha Islands, which is known for its strategic importance and resource richness.