Storm breaks ship into two in South China Sea, hinders rescue operations VIDEO

A ship has broken in two in the South China Sea during a storm, with emergency services scrambling to save those on board.

More than two dozen workers on board an industrial support ship are feared to have died after the ship broke in two on July 2, according to Daily Express. A dangerous storm is thought to have caused the ship to break, with planes and helicopters scrambled to the scene in the South China Sea in a bid to look for survivors.

Hong Kong officials sent two fixed-wing aircraft and four helicopters to aid the rescue effort.

So far only three out of 30 of those on board the vessel have been safely recovered.

According to the Hong Kong Government Flying Service, the vessel was 160 nautical miles (296km) southwest of Hong Kong and “suffered substantial damage and broke into two pieces”.

It added the 30-member crew abandoned ship. Government rescue authorities said on July 3 that the chances of finding the 27 outstanding crew members are "very slim".

The search for those missing is continuing, however, the site of the incident was surrounded by about 100 wind turbines which when combined with wind gusts reaching up to 140 km per hour, had caused a struggle for rescuers.

West Wu, the controller of the Government Flying Service of Hong Kong, said on July 3 that the search area had been widened but the chance of finding survivors was "very slim".

The origin or the name of the ship has not yet been divulged; however, the crew were contending with a fierce storm at the time of the wreck.

Tropical storm Chaba had unleashed winds of 110km/h (68mph) making it very difficult to navigate for the crew.

The three rescued workers said their fellow crew may have been swept away by waves before the first helicopter arrived on the scene.