Beijing, January 23 – In a swift maritime rescue operation, China’s Southern Theater Command has saved 17 crew members from a foreign bulk carrier that capsized near Huangyan Island in the South China Sea. The incident unfolded late Thursday evening when the Philippines-bound vessel, en route to Guangdong province, lost balance and communication approximately 55 nautical miles northwest of the disputed island.
Alerted by the Sanya Maritime Safety Bureau, military authorities mobilized resources immediately. Search operations involved military aircraft conducting extensive sweeps over the troubled waters, while two nearby China Coast Guard vessels rushed to the scene for urgent assistance.
By Friday afternoon at 12:30 PM, rescue teams had recovered 17 of the 21 crew members on board. Among them, 14 are reported stable, though tragically two succumbed to their injuries, and one remains under medical care. Efforts to locate the remaining four missing sailors continue unabated, with all available assets deployed in the ongoing mission.
This dramatic rescue highlights China’s robust maritime response capabilities in the strategically vital South China Sea region, where tensions often simmer amid territorial disputes. The operation underscores the perils faced by seafarers in these contested waters and the critical role of coordinated emergency responses.