At 1 pm on June 28, a fishing boat collided with a freight ship that was going from Binh Thuan to Quang Ninh.

The location of the collision was 32 nautical miles away from Bach Long Vy Island in Hai Phong City.

The fishing boat sank with 19 crewmen on board. Nine people were saved immediately to the freight ship but 10 others remained missing.

Vietnam Coastal Radio Station System quickly informed the local search and rescue centre for help and asked nearby vessels to search for the missing fishermen.

The body of another fisherman was found on the next day, the rest are still missing.

Chairman of Tien Thuy Commune, Nghe An Province, Nguyen Van Uoc said 18 of the fishermen were from their commune and most of them are relatives.

Hai Phong People's Committee has asked the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue to work with the authorities in Bach Long Vy Island and related agencies to help with the search and rescue mission.

The Coastal Radio Station Hai Phong was asked to keep sending search and rescue notice on the radio while the navy and coastal guards continue the search. Dtinews

An Nhien