The mainland could contact the captain and the crew on fishing boat QNg 66487 TS at 12:45 pm on October 16, the People’s Committee of the central coastal province of Quang Ngai said.
On the phone, captain Mai Phung Luu said after being released by China, the boat’s engine had broken down and been drifting at sea for several days. Food, water and boat oil were run out.
Nine fishermen had to use mattresses, blankets and mosquito-nets to make up a sail.
The boat has been rescued by Chinese navy patrol afternoon October 16.
Currently, nine Vietnamese fishermen are safe on Tru Cau Island, one of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago.
Luu’s family cried with joy on hearing news from him. Other crew members’ families have also been notified.
On the afternoon of the same day, Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Ho Xuan Son met Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Sun Guoxiang, requesting that China soon verify and confirm the information for Vietnam to safely bring the boat and its crew home at the earliest.
According to the Vietnamese Embassy in China, at 17:30hrs (Vietnamese time) on Oct. 16, 2010, the Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed that China took fishing boat QNg 66487 TS and its nine-member crew to an island of the Hoang Sa archipelago.
The Chinese side has provided food and drinks, the embassy said. However, due to the bad weather, the fishing boat and its crew will have to stay on the island for the next few days, said the embassy.
The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry said it would have exchanges with China to safely bring fishing boat QNg 66487 TS and its nine-member crew home as soon as possible.
Tran Ngoc Nguyen, deputy chairman of Ly Son District People’s Committee said the district will support from VND500,000 – 1,000,000 for each fisherman.
The district will also provide rice for fisherman’s families with 15 kilogram of rice per person during three months.
