Southern Theater Command Navy Organizes Forces for Emergency Rescue of Distressed Vietnamese Vessel

At approximately 1900 hours on July 25, the Southern Theater Command Navy received a report from the South China Sea Rescue 115 vessel that a Vietnamese ship had foundered and sunk in waters approximately 38 nautical miles north of Fiery Cross Reef. Upon receiving the report, the Southern Theater Command Navy immediately activated its emergency response plan and organized the hospital ship Youhao and the destroyer Rizhao, among other forces, to proceed and conduct a joint search-and-rescue operation. At approximately 1000 hours on the morning of July 26, the Rizhao discovered 5 persons in the water and immediately dispatched ship-borne small boats to carry out the rescue. Two Vietnamese crew members exhibiting symptoms of hypothermia were treated aboard the hospital ship Youhao for three and a half hours and are no longer in life-threatening condition. At present, all rescued personnel have been safely transferred, and the Southern Theater Command Navy continues to organize search-and-rescue operations at full effort.

The Rizhao dispatches ship-borne small boats to conduct the rescue. (Photo by Zhu Yuhan)

The Rizhao dispatches ship-borne small boats to conduct the rescue. (Photo by Zhu Yuhan)

The Rizhao dispatches ship-borne small boats to conduct the rescue. (Photo by Zhou Jianbin)

Medical personnel aboard the hospital ship Youhao treat the distressed Vietnamese crew members. (Photo by Zhang Suheng)

Medical personnel aboard the hospital ship Youhao treat the distressed Vietnamese crew members. (Photo by Zhang Suheng)

Vietnamese crew members who escaped danger express gratitude to medical personnel aboard the hospital ship Youhao. (Photo by Wang Tongzhe)

Authors: He Yuemin, Yang Jie, Wang Yifei, Huang Chunmao, Zhang Suheng, Wang Tongzhe, Zhu Yuhan, Zhou Jianbin