Search halted for 5 missing people.

On the afternoon of April 28, Colonel Tran Tuan Anh, Commander of the Border Guard Command of Quang Ngai province, told Thanh Nien newspaper that the search for the five missing people in the sinking of a tugboat and barge in the waters off Ly Son (Quang Ngai) has been temporarily suspended.

"Although the search operation has been temporarily suspended, we are still instructing local fishing boats to report any suspicious signs or bodies floating in the sea to the authorities immediately. At the same time, we are directing the Ly Son Border Guard Station to strengthen patrols and control along the coastline," said Colonel Tran Tuan Anh.

Border guards in Quang Ngai, along with fishing boats, are searching for missing victims in the accident involving a tugboat and barge that sank off the coast of Ly Son.

QUANG NGAI BORDER GUARD

When departing from Ky Ha port ( Quang Nam ), five crew members registered to work on the tugboat and barge: Pham Van Hiep, Dang Minh Phuong, Vo Tan Khuong, Vo Van Nhieu, and Bui Minh Tri. When the tugboat and barge sank at sea, authorities and their families were unable to contact them.

Immediately after the accident occurred, search and rescue forces mobilized additional resources and personnel to expand the search area for the missing victims. Seven vessels participated in the search, including five specialized vessels and two passenger ships. The search area spanned approximately 66 nautical miles.

The capsized barge was towed near Ly Son Island to facilitate the investigation.

In addition, the search team issued a notice requesting cargo ships and fishing vessels operating in the waters of Quang Ngai province to cooperate in the search and rescue operation. Simultaneously, two unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) were used to search around Ly Son Island. A team of divers was also mobilized to continue searching the area where the barge sank. The Quang Ngai Provincial Border Guard also conducted a search throughout the night, but so far without success.

As Thanh Nien newspaper reported, on the morning of April 24, the tugboat LA-06695, towing the barge LA-06883, departed from Ky Ha port (Quang Nam province) en route to Ly Son island district (Quang Ngai province). When they reached an area approximately 4 nautical miles from Ly Son island, an accident occurred, causing both the tugboat and the barge to sink. Authorities recovered four bodies near the accident site. The sunken barge has been towed ashore, while the tugboat remains submerged.

Authorities determined that tugboat LA-06695, towing barge LA-06883, completed departure procedures at Ky Ha port at 10:00 AM on April 23rd and departed at 11:30 AM the same day. The cargo on the barge consisted of boulders transported from Ky Ha port to Ly Son island for use in the construction of the breakwater at Ben Dinh port.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/vu-tau-keo-va-sa-lan-bi-chim-dung-tim-kiem-5-nguoi-mat-tich-185240428171802709.htm