China rescues 47 crew members after Vietnamese vessel sinks

China has rescued 47 of the 62 crew members aboard a Vietnamese vessel that sank in the South China Sea during severe weather, as search efforts continue for those still missing.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the vessel went down on the night of July 24 while operating in adverse weather conditions. After detecting the distressed ship, Chinese authorities dispatched rescue vessels and helicopters to conduct search and rescue operations, Caliber.Az reports per Chinese media.

According to Lin, the injured received medical treatment, and all 47 rescued crew members have been transferred to Vietnamese authorities. He added that Vietnam had expressed its gratitude to China for the rescue efforts.

Fifteen people remain missing, and search and rescue operations are ongoing.

By Sabina Mammadli