Chinese Warship Rescues 17 Philippino Sailors From Capsized Vessel

Chinese military and maritime authorities rescued Filipino crew members after a foreign cargo ship capsized in the South China Sea. The rescue operation was confirmed Friday by the PLA Southern Theater Command.

The accident occurred around 9:30 p.m. Thursday when a Singaporean-flagged cargo vessel carrying 21 Filipino crew members capsized about 55 nautical miles northwest of Scarborough Shoal.

Chinese military aircraft and Coast Guard vessels were deployed, and as of 12:30 p.m. Friday, 17 crew members had been retrieved, including two confirmed dead, while rescue operations remain ongoing.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila confirmed the incident, saying a Hainan rescue center received the distress report and that all crew members were Filipino nationals.