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Vietnamese Fisherman Saved During Typhoon Chanchu

During a very violent typhoon, Chanchu, 330 Vietnamese fisherman were caught in the storm. The China Maritime Search and Rescue Center saved these fisherman in what was considered by the state-media as the biggest at sea rescue effort in China`s history. On Saturday afternoon itself, they saved 97 Vietnamese fishermen.

Following a telegraph sent by the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam to the China Maritime Search and Rescue Center Friday afternoon, the rescue team started its operation to rescue 22 Vietnamese fishing boats and hundreds of fishermen caught in the storms brought by Typhoon Chanchu. The fishermen were running out of oil and fresh water, and have lost contacts with the Vietnamese side.

According to the center, by 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, Chinese rescue ship `Nanhaijiu 111` had found 21 Vietnamese fishing boats in danger in the sea areas of the Dongsha Islands, in the South China Sea. The Xinhua news agency reports that the the rescue operation has lasted for more than 40 hours, and Chinese rescuers are continuing their efforts to search for other endangered Vietnamese fishermen.