A Chinese fishing boat sank in the Indian Ocean, leaving 39 fishermen missing, according to Chinese state media on Wednesday.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged an all-out rescue effort for the crew, which consists of 17 Chinese, 17 Indonesians, and 5 Filipinos, according to state news agency Xinhua.
According to Xinhua, search and rescue crews have arrived on the scene. It was also mentioned that ships from Australia and other nations had joined the hunt, and that China had sent out at least two ships to help.
None of the crew has yet been found.
The vessel, named “Lu Peng Yuan Yu 028” and owned by Shandong province-based Penglai Jinglu Fishery, capsized in the central part of the Indian Ocean around 3 a.m. local time on Tuesday, Chinese state media said.
In a statement Wednesday, China’s Foreign Ministry said Chinese authorities were grateful to the Australian Maritime Search and Rescue Department for its timely dispatch of aircraft and coordination of vessels passing through.
“We hope that surrounding countries will continue to work with China to carry out joint search and rescue and not give up hope of saving lives,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin.
More rescue teams were rushing to the scene, he added.