Sri Lankan divers have recovered seven bodies from a Chinese fishing vessel that capsized in the central Indian Ocean last week (17), according to Chinese state media.
According to Reuters, state-run CCTV reported on Monday (22) that the recovery has been made days after China President Xi Jinping ordered an all-out search to rescue and recover missing crew members.
Several countries, including Sri Lanka, Australia, India, Indonesia, the Maldives, and the Philippines, joined in rescue efforts for 39 missing crew members after the Chinese distant-water fishing vessel “Lupeng Yuanyu 028” capsized early last Tuesday.
The vessel is owned by Penglai Jinglu Fishery based in Shandong province. The company has yet to release a statement on the incident.
Of the 39 people that were originally on board – 17 Chinese crew members, 17 Indonesians and five from the Philippines – it was not immediately clear which crew members were found.
CCTV reported according to the Chinese Ministry of Transport that Sri Lankan divers found and recovered the remains in the cabin of the ship.
The wrecked vessel continues to slowly drift eastward. 13 ships are still in the vicinity of where the boat sank, according to CCTV.
CCTV footage last week showed high-powered marine radar on ships that were trying to locate the capsized vessel, while crew members were seen using visual equipment to pan sea waters to locate survivors.
Last Thursday, the Chinese foreign ministry said President Xi instructed that additional rescue forces be sent and that international maritime search assistance be coordinated.
China’s ambassador to Australia urged Canberra on Thursday to step up its rescue efforts to help locate the missing. (NewsWire)