Eighteen people missing in South China Sea after Vietnamese ship sank

There were 62 radical aboard the vas erstwhile it sank, each of them Vietnamese nationals.

At slightest 18 radical are missing successful the South China Sea aft a Vietnamese cargo vessel sank.

Chinese and Vietnamese authorities were inactive searching connected Sunday for the missing, each of whom are Vietnamese nationals. According to state-run Chinese quality transmission CGTN, 62 radical were aboard the vas erstwhile it sank connected Friday evening.

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Chinese authorities archetypal became alert of the concern 24 hours later, connected Saturday evening, aft detecting the vessel’s distress flare. Since then, 44 radical person been rescued.

The vessel is 70 metres (230 feet) agelong and tin transportation up to 999 tonnes.

China has dispatched six vessels and a rescue helicopter, portion Vietnam has besides sent a vessel to assistance with rescue efforts.

The resource-rich South China Sea is astatine the centre of a large quality betwixt respective states, including China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei.

Beijing claims the bulk of the territory and has created artificial islands and naval patrols to consolidate its control.

All six countries person competing claims to the Spratly Islands, an archipelago comprising much than 100 tiny islands and perchance vigor resources.