HCMC – Two squid fishing boats from Quang Nam Province were sunk by a tornado near Vietnam’s Truong Sa Archipelago (Spratlys), leaving three dead and 12 others missing, the local media reported.
At around 7:30 p.m. on October 16, a fishing vessel with 54 fishermen onboard capsized near Song Tu Tay Island within the Truong Sa Archipelago. During this incident, a nearby fishing boat was trying to rescue 40 of the stricken fishermen.
As of this morning, the search and rescue team has discovered the bodies of three fishermen, while 11 others are still missing.
At 1 a.m. this morning, another fishing boat with 38 fishermen succumbed to strong waves around 135 nautical miles from Song Tu Tay Island. A nearby fishing vessel successfully rescued 38 fishermen, but one remains missing.
Le Tri Thanh, chairman of the Quang Nam People’s Committee, has petitioned the National Committee for Search and Rescue of Vietnam to intensify their efforts in locating and rescuing the missing fishermen.
The local authorities have mobilized 20 fishing boats and three naval ships to partake in the search and rescue operation.
According to the National Center of Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, a tropical depression in the East Sea has triggered heavy rains, thunderstorms, and tornadoes across the waters spanning from Quang Tri to Quang Ngai provinces, as well as the northern and central areas of the East Sea.
Source: The SaigonTimes