Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang provided information on the recent incident of fishing boats from Quang Binh in distress at sea and citizen protection work. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

On the afternoon of May 9, at a regular press conference, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang informed about the recent incident of fishing boats from Quang Binh in distress at sea and citizen protection work.

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang said that according to information from the authorities, on May 2-3, 4 fishing boats from Quang Binh province with 24 fishermen on board were in distress at sea. Vietnamese authorities and fishing boats coordinated with Chinese search and rescue forces to actively search and rescue the fishermen.

“So far, the information we have is that the forces have rescued 13 fishermen, found one dead fisherman and are actively searching for the remaining 10 fishermen,” Ms. Hang said.

Immediately after receiving the information, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs worked with the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi and directed the Vietnamese Embassy in Beijing to inform the Chinese search and rescue agency.

"Vietnam requests that China increase the dispatch of necessary forces and means to conduct search and rescue operations for the missing fishermen," Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang stated.

The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that Chinese authorities have also sent vehicles to coordinate with Vietnam to support search operations. Vietnamese authorities are continuing to closely coordinate with the Chinese side to actively search for and rescue fishermen; monitor and update the situation of the incident and be ready to take timely citizen protection measures.

Vietnam requests China to increase the dispatch of necessary forces and means to conduct search and rescue operations for the missing fishermen. (Source: VNE)