Twenty-seven sailors went missing after a Vietnamese cargo ship sank in waters off Vietnam's central Ha Tinh province Thursday due to strong gales, Vietnam News Agency reported.
The cargo ship named "Phu Tan" was heading from Vietnam's central Danang city to northern Haiphong city when it hit gales.
Previous media reports said Phu Tan is a fishing boat but Vietnamese news agency said it is a cargo ship with a total of 27 sailors on aboard. The loading capacity of the ship is over 14,000 tons.
Vietnamese sea salvage authority received the distress signals from the ship Thursday morning. It immediately dispatched rescue vessels to search for the ship and ordered one oil tanker near the scene to participate in the rescue work.
Chinese maritime rescue authorities has also dispatched a rescue vessel to search for the missing fishermen after receiving emergency calls from the Vietnamese maritime authority.
However, Vietnamese salvage authority lost contact with the ship later Thursday. Hindered by strong gale, the rescue vessels are having big difficulties in reaching the site. Vietnamese salvage authority said the 27 sailors may have fallen overboard into the water.
Phu Tan IMO 8715455, dwt 14205, built 1988, flag Vietnam. (Photo:Markus Berger)