Dozens of crew members are missing after a ship broke in two in the South China Sea off the coast of Hong Kong on Saturday morning (local time). Authorities say the shipwreck was the result of severe weather conditions from Tropical Storm Chaba.
Thirty people were on board the ship of an engineering company. Rescuers were able to rescue three crew members by helicopter. They have been taken to hospital. The other victims are still being sought.
Rescue workers say the search is difficult due to bad weather. At the site where the ship was wrecked, about 300 kilometers southwest of Hong Kong, wind gusts of 144 kilometers per hour and waves up to 10 meters high were measured on Saturday.
Tropical Storm Chaba is also causing heavy rainfall and strong wind gusts in Hong Kong itself. Public transport is limited and many businesses have closed their doors. A museum that was scheduled to open on Saturday to mark the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s transfer of sovereignty to China has remained closed due to the storm.
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