Procedures are underway with the Hong Kong administration to bring 10 fishermen picked up by the Jade Trader, a ship of Antigua and Barbuda, to their home province of Quang Ngai, said officials.

The Centre for Storm and Flood Control in the Central-Central Highlands Region said 10 crewmen from the QNg 96354 ship, which was capsized by typhoon Conson, were found drifting 100 km north of Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago at 23h on July 18.

The Jade Trader rescued the victims en route to Hong Kong and was scheduled to drop anchor at the Hong Kong seaport in the afternoon of July 19.

The National Search and Rescue Committee office was requested to speed up filing procedures, in association with other relevant agencies, to bring them home as soon as possible.

One crewman from the ship is still missing, the agency reported.

The Conson typhoon, which hit Vietnam ’s northern coastal provinces late on July 17, has overturned or stranded seven fishing boats with 85 fishermen aboard offshore from the Hoang Sa archipelago. A total of 29 ships were fishing in the area by 13h on July 19.

The disaster had reportedly also left eight injured and 17 missing so far.

The naval force has sent three ships to sea for search and rescue missions, providing fuel for 14 fishing ships, which are now heading to Da Nang seaport.

The naval ships carried cooking, fresh water and medicines to provide first aid for victims.

One ship continues its mission off the Hoang Sa archipelago, searching for the missing fishermen.

Storm-stranded fishermen cared for in Hong Kong

Vietnamese Consul-General to Hong Kong and Macau Pham Cao Phong on July 19 visited 10 Vietnamese fishermen who were victims of a ship sinking by typhoon Conson.

According to the fishermen, they were on board the QNg 96354 TS ship, which was capsized by typhoon Conson at 5am on July 16. They were picked up by the Jade Trader, a ship of Antigua and Barbuda , on the way to Hong Kong on July 18.

At present, all ten victims’ health is in stable conditions.

The only missing fisherman, Nguyen Van Tho, was later rescued by another ship.

According to Consul-General Phong, the Consulate General and the Quang Ngai provincial People’s Committee are urgently working with the Hong Kong administration to bring the fishermen home by air on July 20.

Source: VNA