越南货轮Khoi Nguyen 18号在南中国海火礁附近因恶劣天气沉没[1]。船上共有62人，45人获救[1]，目前仍有17人失踪[1]。
沉没事故发生在7月24日晚间[2]，地点位于南沙群岛永暑礁附近海域[2]。越南外交部发言人Pham Thu Hang表示"船只在恶劣天气条件下在东海运营时沉没"[1]。中国外交部发言人林劍指出目前仍有部分船员失联，搜救工作仍在进行中[2]。
越南、菲律宾和中国已启动联合多国搜救行动[1]。菲律宾海岸警卫队发言人Commodore Noemie Cayabyab确认菲方已部署巡逻艇和飞机参与救援[1]。中国交通运输部南海救助局在7月25日18时23分发现并救援遇险人员[2]，中国海警宣德艦、南沙艦在7月26日晚又发现2名落水遇险人员[2]。
The Vietnamese cargo vessel Khoi Nguyen 18 sank near Fiery Cross Reef in the South China Sea on Saturday evening due to severe weather conditions.[1] Of the 62 crew members aboard, 45 were rescued, leaving 17 missing.[1] According to China's official account, 47 Vietnamese nationals were saved by Chinese authorities, with additional recoveries reported on July 26.[2]
A multinational search and rescue operation involving Vietnam, the Philippines, and China has been launched.[1] Vietnam's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang stated that the vessel sank "while operating in the East Sea under harsh weather conditions."[1] The Philippine Coast Guard confirmed its deployment of patrol boats and aircraft to the area, with Commodore Noemie Cayabyab confirming the country's participation in the response.[1] China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian indicated that some crew members remain unaccounted for and search efforts are ongoing.[2]
The incident occurred in a strategically significant region; the South China Sea handles approximately five trillion dollars in global maritime trade annually.[1] Fiery Cross Reef is a disputed area in the Spratly Islands and serves as a Chinese military outpost.[1]