VietNamNet Bridge - Soldiers on the Song Tu Tay Island, of Truong Sa district in Khanh Hoa province on the evening of January 16 saved six Filipino fishermen on a broken, drifting fishing boat numbered 06-0252.

Guards on the island detected a boat drifting about 1,000 from the island at 7:50pm, in waves 3-4m high.

At 8:10pm, the fishing boat split after hitting the island breakwater. People on board clung to the embankment. Vietnamese rescuers saved all six people on the boat.

The six survivors include: Vionioco Phaitan (56, captain), Loloygtnu Hilago (39), Gregoriang Hang (35), Ernanggoivan Nier (47), Manne Intoihiarya (37) and Baloy Dugan (37). All of them are residents of the town of Marige Laec, Balanga city, the Philippines.

They left their country on the 10-ton fishing boat on January 1. On January 3, the vessel failed and began drifting.

The soldiers on Song Tu Tay Island have conducted health checks and provided them with medicine and food. The survivors will be handed over to the Philippine Embassy in Vietnam.

Le Ha