According to a spokesman of the city`s Marine Department, at about 3 p.m. local time on Monday, the Hong Kong Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Center (HK MRCC) received a distress alert from the bulk carrier, Bright Ruby, carrying 21 crew members including nine Korean nationals and 12 Myanmar nationals and steel cargo from Penang, Malaysia, to Rizhao on the Chinese Mainland.
It sank at the position 16.33 degrees north latitude and 114 degrees east longitude in the South China Sea.
The spokesman said the fixed-wing planes of the city`s Government Flying Service have made three sorties to the scene for the search and rescue operation since Monday afternoon.
So far, eight ships near the scene have responded to the call of the HK MRCC and have been involved in the operation, picking up 15 crew members.
The HK MRCC is continuing to co-ordinate the search and rescue operation for the six crew members who are still missing. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
