Hong Kong, July 1 (BNA): An industrial support vessel operating in the South China Sea sank in a storm with more than two dozen crew members likely missing, Hong Kong rescue services said Saturday.
Authorities sent planes and helicopters to aid in the rescue, with at least three people of a 30-member crew having reached safety as of 5:30 p.m. (1030 GMT) on Saturday, according to the Associated Press.
Pictures released by the Hong Kong government’s aviation service showed a crew member being flown into a rescue helicopter as heavy waves hit the sunken ships, which were smashed into two parts.
The accident occurred 300 kilometers (186 miles) south of Hong Kong.
The Flying Service did not say the ship’s name or origin. In a statement, it said crew members were negotiating the difficulties caused by severe Tropical Storm Chapa, which had maximum winds of 110 kilometers (68 miles) per hour.
The storm made landfall in the western part of coastal Guangdong Province later on Saturday.
The Hong Kong Service has sent two fixed-wing aircraft and four helicopters for the rescue effort.
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