Beijing: Several ships and aircraft searched for 39 people reported missing after a Chinese fishing boat capsized in the middle of the Indian Ocean. According to a Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, the accident happened around 3am (local time) last week. The report said the crew includes 17 from China, 17 from Indonesia and five from the Philippines.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping and PM Li Qiang have ordered Chinese diplomats abroad, as well as the agriculture and transportation ministries, to assist in the search for survivors. “All-out efforts” must be made in the rescue operation, Xi was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua news agency. Li ordered unspecified measures to “reduce casualties and strengthen safety management of fishing vessels at sea to ensure safe maritime transport and production,” Xinhua said. Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines have also expressed their willingness to join in the search. Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency stated that capsizing occurred about 4,600 km northwest of Australia. Several ships and an Australian defense force P-8A Poseidon aircraft have been searching the area.