39 People Reported Missing as Chinese Fishing Boat Capsizes in Indian Ocean
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Thirty-nine individuals, including Chinese nationals, are unaccounted for after a Chinese fishing boat overturned in the central region of the Indian Ocean on Tuesday.
Onboard the vessel were a total of 17 Chinese crew members, 17 Indonesians, and five Filipinos. Currently, no missing persons have been located, and search efforts are underway.
A multinational search and rescue operation has been initiated to locate the missing mariners, prompting China's premier to call for enhanced safety protocols for fishing activities at sea.
The incident occurred at approximately 3 am Beijing time on Tuesday (1900 GMT Monday) when the vessel, named Lu Peng Yuan Yu 028, capsized.
CCTV reported that President Xi Jinping has directed the coordinated search, stating, "So far, no missing persons have been found."
Teams from various regions have arrived at the scene, and China has dispatched two commercial vessels, the Lu Peng Yuan Yu 018 and Yuan Fu Hai, to assist in the operation.
Premier Li Qiang emphasized the need to bolster safety measures for fishing vessels at sea and implement preventive actions to ensure maritime transportation safety. He urged the relevant ministries to enhance oversight of the fishing sector.
According to CCTV, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has activated an "emergency mechanism for consular protection," involving embassies and consulates in Australia, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Indonesia, the Philippines, and other countries.
