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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
SANYA, January 23 (Xinhua) — Chinese rescue teams have pulled 17 Filipino crew members from the waters of a ship that sank in the South China Sea, Chinese government agencies announced on Friday.
As of Friday evening, fifteen of the rescued people were in stable condition, two were found dead, and four remained missing.
At 12:46 a.m. Friday local time, the search and rescue unit in Sansha City, Hainan Province, southern China, received a notification from the Hainan Provincial Maritime Search and Rescue Center. The message stated that the Singapore-registered bulk carrier DEVON BAY, en route from the Philippines to Guangdong Province in southern China, had lost contact with shore authorities in waters approximately 55 nautical miles northwest of China's Huangyan Island. There were 21 Filipino crew members on board the ship.
According to the center, contact with the vessel was last established at 9:26 PM on January 22, when a severe listing of the bulk carrier's hull and water taking on board was reported, after which contact was lost. The vessel's emergency position-indicating radio beacon had already issued an alarm.
After receiving the notification, the search and rescue unit of Sansha City launched a multilateral international maritime rescue operation.
The PLA Southern Command immediately dispatched a military aircraft to conduct search and rescue operations over the waters where the disaster occurred. Two nearby China Coast Guard vessels, as well as teams from the South China Sea Rescue Bureau of the Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China, also joined the rescue operation.
Numerous international commercial vessels, including ships flying the flags of Liberia, Panama and Japan, also took part in the search operation.
At 4:28 a.m. Friday, China Coast Guard vessels located and rescued four crew members in a lifeboat. Difficult sea conditions, including strong winds and rough seas, posed significant challenges to the rescue operation. Chinese authorities, however, confirmed that search and rescue efforts were ongoing.
The 15 Filipino sailors, who were found in stable condition, have received medical treatment and are being cared for on board the Chinese vessel, according to the China Coast Guard.
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