Vietnamese Ship Khoi Nguyen 18 Sinks in Spratlys With 17 Crew Still Missing

A Vietnamese cargo ship sank in the South China Sea on Saturday evening, leaving at least 17 crew members missing as of Sunday afternoon.

The Khoi Nguyen 18 went down near Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands during stormy weather. Vietnam's Foreign Ministry said the ship was operating in severe conditions when it sank. Sixty-two people were on board.

By midday Sunday, July 27, rescue teams had recovered 45 survivors. At least 17 others had not been found.

China's rescue ship Nanhai Jiu 115 spotted the ship's distress flare Saturday evening and launched the first response. Six Chinese ships and one rescue helicopter, along with Vietnamese and Philippine ships, joined the search. The Philippine Coast Guard deployed a patrol ship and an aircraft after receiving a direct request from Vietnam.

Firey Cross Reef sits in the Spratly Islands, a chain of reefs and outposts in the South China Sea that China, Vietnam, the Philippines and several other countries claim in full or in part. The reef is occupied by China and has been developed as a military installation.