Rescuers in ship SAR 274 from the Da Nang-based Regional Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre No 2 (Da Nang MRCC) have found 11 crew members onboard cargo ship Toan Phat 68, which sank off Quy Nhon City’s coast.

The handover of the 10 surviving crew members to relevant local agencies in progress

At around 10:50am on Saturday, Toan Phat 68, carrying a total of 11 crew members and 2,950 tonnes of clinker, was en route from the northern province of Hai Phong to the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, when it unexpectedly sank about 4 nautical miles to the east of Quy Nhon City’s coast.

The incident drove all of the sailors into panic. They immediately left the ship and swam at sea, battling bad weather conditions at sea.

Having received an SOS message from the distressed cargo ship, the Viet Nam Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (Viet Nam MRCC) coordinated with the Quy Nhon Maritime Administration to carry out search and rescue plans. SAR 274 rescue ship, which was on duty in the waters off Quy Nhon City’s coast at that time, was asked to promptly come to the rescue of the victims.

By 12:00pm on the same day, the rescuers had found all the 11 crew members, but regretfully, Captain Luong Xuan Hanh was suffering a cardiac attack. Despite being given first aid, Hanh died later.

The 10 surviving crew members were transferred onto SAR 274 for intensive medical care. Finally, at 1:00pm on the same day, they were safely brought to the Quy Nhon City’s mainland for further treatment.

By HOANG SA- Translated by ANH THU