# 48 rescued, 14 missing after Vietnam ship sinks near Chinese reef 2026-08-07T19:59:17+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Forty-eight people have been rescued and 14 remain missing after the Vietnamese cargo vessel Khoi Nguyen 18 sank near Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands on Saturday, July 25. The reef is a Chinese-built island and military outpost in the contested South China Sea. A multinational search involving Vietnamese, Chinese and Philippine rescuers is under way. Vietnam said it mobilised rescue operations immediately and coordinated with Chinese ships and helicopters. The Philippine Coast Guard deployed a patrol vessel and aircraft after a request from Vietnam. Authorities said bad weather contributed to the sinking, but the exact cause is still under investigation. ## Coverage - thehindu.com Tags: cargo ship disaster, Fiery Cross Reef, search and rescue, South China Sea, Spratly Islands, Vietnam Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/48-rescued-14-missing-after-vietnam-ship-sinks-near-chinese-reef/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/48-rescued-14-missing-after-vietnam-ship-sinks-near-chinese-reef/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.