4 fishermen dead after Panama-flagged vessel strikes fishing boat off Vietnam's Hai Phong

The Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (Vietnam MRCC) reported that at 6:55 am, the 120-meter-long, 21-meter-wide vessel Hosei Crown, en route from Chua Ve Port in Hai Phong to the Philippines, struck the TH 92686 TS fishing boat about 45 nautical miles northwest of Bach Long Vi Island.

The collision caused the fishing boat to sink, leaving all 12 crew members missing.

Windy and foggy conditions at the time complicated rescue efforts.

Upon receiving the distress call, Vietnam MRCC coordinated with Hai Phong Maritime Radio Station to issue a maritime alert and mobilized nearby vessels for search and rescue operations.

The Hosei Crown was also instructed to deploy life rafts and assist with the search.

By 9:10 am, rescuers had located eight survivors and recovered four bodies.

The survivors and bodies were transferred to Hai Phong mainland for further handling by authorities.

Vietnam MRCC is working with other agencies to investigate the cause of the accident.