Eighteen People Missing After Vietnamese Cargo Ship Sinks in South China Sea

By the Editorial Team · Monday, July 27, 2026

A Vietnamese cargo ship carrying 62 people sank near Fiery Cross Reef in the disputed Spratly Islands, leaving 17 or 18 individuals missing amid ongoing joint rescue operations by China and Vietnam. The coordinated search highlights the rare collaboration between the two countries in a strategically sensitive area marked by territorial disputes.

Rescue operations continued in the South China Sea after a Vietnamese cargo ship sank on July 25, leaving 17 or 18 people missing, with all passengers reported as Vietnamese nationals. The vessel, identified as Khoi Nguyen 18, was carrying 62 people when it encountered distress near Fiery Cross Reef, an area within the disputed Spratly Islands. Rescue teams from both China and Vietnam have been actively involved in the search efforts.

Chinese authorities became aware of the incident on the evening of July 25 after detecting a distress flare from the vessel. Chinese rescue ship Nanhai Liu 115 initially found a life raft containing 29 survivors about 38 nautical miles north of Fiery Cross Reef. Subsequent rescue missions increased the number of people recovered to between 44 and 45. Six Chinese vessels, two rescue ships, and a rescue helicopter were deployed for the operation, while the Vietnamese government also dispatched a ship to assist.

The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry confirmed its close coordination with Chinese authorities in responding to the incident and expressed gratitude for China's support in the search-and-rescue efforts. Vietnamese officials emphasized the promptness of their response following reports of the sinking.

The vessel involved is nearly 70 meters (230 feet) long with a gross tonnage of approximately 999 tons. The South China Sea, a strategic and resource-rich waterway, is subject to overlapping territorial claims by several countries, including China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei. Fiery Cross Reef, where the incident took place, is part of the Spratly Islands cluster, which China refers to as the Nansha Islands and over which it asserts extensive sovereignty claims. China has constructed runways and militarized artificial islands in the area, intensifying regional tensions.

As search operations continued through July 26 and beyond, the fate of the remaining missing individuals remained uncertain. Both Chinese and Vietnamese authorities maintained joint efforts to locate any survivors amid the challenging conditions in this contested maritime region.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.