17 Missing After Vietnamese Cargo Ship Sinks in South China Sea
HANOI — July 26, 2026 — A Vietnamese cargo ship has sunk in the South China Sea amid severe weather conditions, leaving 17 crew members missing while 45 have been rescued in a joint search-and-rescue operation involving Vietnamese and Chinese authorities, Vietnamese officials confirmed on Sunday, July 26.
The vessel, identified as the Khoi Nguyen 18, was carrying 62 people when it went down in rough seas near Yongshu Reef, also known as Fiery Cross Reef, in the Spratly Islands archipelago, according to Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs .
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Rescue Operations Underway
Vietnamese authorities deployed search-and-rescue teams immediately after the incident occurred, coordinating closely with Chinese rescue forces, including ships and helicopters, as well as other vessels operating near the accident site .
China’s Sansha City authorities confirmed that a Chinese rescue vessel, the Nanhai Jiu 115 operated by the Ministry of Transport’s Nanhai Rescue Bureau, first spotted a rocket parachute distress signal from the distressed ship at approximately 6:23 p.m. on Saturday, July 25 .
By noon on Sunday, July 26, rescue teams had recovered 45 survivors, while efforts were underway to locate the remaining 17 people . According to Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang, authorities and fishing vessels are actively searching for the missing individuals and remain ready to implement further rescue and support measures .
Vessel and Weather Conditions
The Khoi Nguyen 18 is a Vietnamese-registered cargo vessel built in 2017, measuring 69.9 meters in length with a 10.8-meter beam and a gross tonnage of 999 . The vessel, carrying a reported 62 people, sank while operating in bad weather conditions in the South China Sea .
The incident occurred near Yongshu Reef, which is controlled by China but also claimed by Vietnam and the Philippines . Six Chinese vessels, a rescue helicopter, and one Vietnamese vessel were participating in the search-and-rescue operations at the scene .
Government Response and Family Notification
Vietnamese authorities have kept the families of those aboard informed of developments in the rescue operation and are preparing support measures for survivors returning safely to shore . The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been providing regular updates on the search and rescue situation .
“We sincerely thank the Chinese authorities for their prompt support in the search-and-rescue operation and hope both sides will continue to work closely together to locate those who remain missing,” spokesperson Pham Thu Hang said .
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Separate Sinking Incident
In a separate incident, another Vietnamese vessel sank amid rough seas near the Spratly Islands on Friday, July 24, according to Vietnamese state media . That fishing vessel encountered strong winds, took on water, and sank on Friday morning, with 33 fishermen rescued and three reported missing . The survivors were brought to Da Tay, or West Reef, an atoll under Vietnamese control in the Spratlys, for medical care .
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