Expanding the search area for missing crew members after the sinking of a barge on Quang Ngai sea

Video source: Border Guard of Quang Ngai province

Talking to PV VietNamNet on the afternoon of April 25, Colonel Tran Tuan Anh – Commander of the Border Guard Command of Quang Ngai province said that the unit is mobilizing forces and coordinating with local authorities and functional agencies. Organize rescue and search for missing crew members in Quang Ngai waters.

Lieutenant Colonel Do Tai Nang – Deputy Chief of Staff of the Border Guard Command of Quang Ngai province added that as soon as they received information about the sinking of a barge carrying many people at a location about 3 nautical miles from Ly Son island, the units Authorities have set up a fleet of ships to organize rescue.

“The search team includes ships SAR 412, SAR 274, Border Guard ship BP 090501, and 2 passenger ships initially expanding the search in the northern area of ​​Ly Son island and along the waters of Quang Ngai adjacent to Quang Nam.

After searching for the bodies of 4 victims, a number of ships in the border fleet have been dispatched back to the area where the barge sank to continue searching,” Lieutenant Colonel Do Tai Nang said.

Also according to the leader of the Border Guard Command of Quang Ngai province, the bodies of 4 crew members were brought on board SAR 412 and it is expected that this afternoon, the ship will move to Dung Quat port to hand over the bodies to the authorities. . At the same time, the Quang Ngai border guard mobilized 10 more fishing boats of fishermen, continuing to expand the search area for missing crew members.

On the morning of April 25, talking to VietNamNet, Director of the Vietnam Maritime Administration Le Do Muoi said that he had signed a document requesting to dispatch helicopters to search for missing crew members in Quang Ngai waters.

The dispatch was sent to the National Committee for Natural Disaster Response and Search and Rescue, after the tugboat LA-06695 towing the barge LA-06883 sank on the journey to Ly Son – Quang Ngai.

In addition to the request to mobilize helicopters, the Vietnam Maritime Administration requested the National Committee for Natural Disaster Response and Search and Rescue to direct forces such as the Navy, Coast Guard Command, Fisheries Surveillance… Strengthen means of coordination with maritime forces participating in search and rescue.

Initial information from the Quang Ngai Maritime Port Authority said that at around 4:00 a.m. on April 24, tugboat LA-06695 towed barge LA-06883 (these two inland waterway vehicles both carry VR-SB registration class). , carrying 1,236 tons of stone on the journey from Ky Ha – Quang Nam to Ly Son – Quang Ngai, with 5 crew members on the tugboat. When reaching the area about 3 nautical miles from Ly Son island – the waters of Quang Ngai province, a sinking incident occurred.

The number of people on board was more than initially reported

Immediately after the incident occurred, the Vietnam Maritime Administration directed the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center, Quang Ngai and Quang Nam Maritime Port Authorities to mobilize specialized vehicles and coordinate with other agencies. Local forces deployed coordinated search and rescue activities.

The Ministry of Transport has established a forward command post at Quang Ngai port authority. Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Xuan Sang directly directs search and rescue work.

By the end of April 24, forces had found four bodies of victims. A representative of the Vietnam Maritime Administration said that among the four victims’ bodies, three people have been identified. Family members came to do the procedures.

However, these 3 victims were not on the list of 5 crew members who registered to disembark the ship. The remaining victim has not been identified.

“Thus, there will be about 8-9 people on board, not 5 crew members as initially reported,” said a representative of the Maritime Administration.