STORYLINE:

A Vietnamese vessel sank after encountering distress in waters near Yongshu Reef in the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea, with 44 people rescued as of 12:00 Sunday, authorities of China's Sansha City said.

All those rescued are Vietnamese nationals from the distressed vessel "Khoi Nguyen 18." A total of 62 people were on board.

At about 18:23 on Saturday, "Nanhai Jiu 115," a rescue ship operated by Nanhai Rescue Bureau of the Ministry of Transport, spotted what was believed to be a rocket parachute distress signal of the distressed ship on the sea. Six Chinese vessels, one rescue helicopter and one Vietnamese vessel are carrying out search and rescue operations at the scene.

According to the Sansha maritime search and rescue authorities, "Khoi Nguyen 18" is a Vietnamese-registered ship measuring 69.9 meters in length and 10.8 meters in beam, with a gross tonnage of 999.

Search and rescue operations are continuing.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

South China Sea, China - July 25, 2026 (Courtesy of South China Sea Rescue Bureau - No access Chinese mainland)

1. Various of people from distressed Vietnamese vessel on lifeboat; boarding Chinese rescue ship

2. Various of rescued people on Chinese ship, greeting, hugging each other