Chinese ships have rescued about 330 Vietnamese sailors, who were lost at sea after being hit by Typhoon Chanchu.

At least 26 Vietnamese fishermen in the East Sea were killed (Photo: H.Chau).

At least 26 Vietnamese fishermen in the East Sea were killed, and more than 180 people are still missing in the wake of Typhoon Chanchu which struck early last week.

Vietnamese News Agency correspondents in Beijing said that a Chinese rescue ship on Saturday found and rescued three Vietnamese fishing boats that had run out of fuel and fresh water.

In these boats, 97 Vietnamese sailors were found alive while 18 others had died.

The Chinese rescue ship provided the victims with food, water, medicine and fuel. The Vietnamese boats were recovered and used to help continue search and rescue work.

The urgent rescue programme was carried out by China's Centre for Marine Rescue and Search. It is estimated that more than 180 fishermen are still missing. The Chinese Transport Ministry has contacted Hong Kong ships and vessels at sea in the area to ask for help in the search for the missing men.

It was reported that Chinese ships had rescued a total of 15 Vietnamese fishing vessels.

If the Vietnamese death toll is confirmed, the powerful storm have claimed 23 lives in China and 41 in the Philippines, said the China's Xinhua News Agency.

Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh yesterday sent condolences to the authorities and people of Da Nang, Quang Nam and Quang Ngai, areas that are having to cope with heavy loss of life and property following Typhoon Chanchu.

Manh said he hoped that local people would soon overcome the losses and instructed local authorities to continue their search efforts and help quickly stabilise people's lives.

Ninety seven Vietnamese sailors were found alive while 18 others had died (Photo: Hoang Phuong).

Prime Minister Phan Van Khai released an urgent message on Saturday, and said that the National Committee for Search and Rescue, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Central Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control and border guards have been working closely with relevant Chinese ministries and agencies to rescue victims.

"On behalf of the Vietnamese Government, I would like to extend my sympathy to the victims' families and thank the Chinese Government and Rescue Forces for their prompt assistance," the PM said.

Khai asked relevant ministries and agencies to continue searching for the missing.

Under the PM's instruction, the Vietnamese National Committee for Search and Rescue, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant ministries and agencies will co-operate with rescue forces from mainland China and Taiwan to continue to search for fishermen and boats reported missing and also help storm victims onshore.

Khai asked the People's Committees of the central coastal city of Da Nang and the central coastal provinces of Quang Nam and Quang Ngai to provide aid for local victims, work closely with border guards to inform the National Committee for Search and Rescue of the number of local sailors and fishing boats reported missing, and co-ordinate with the Central Rescue Forces.

The PM also asked the National Committee for Search and Rescue and relevant ministries and agencies to report their results in a timely manner.

In Da Nang, near fishing areas hit by the storm, the National Rescue Committee on Sunday sent rescue vessels to storm-hit areas out at sea to supply fuel, food and bring victims back to Da Nang City. Three Da Nang fishing ships filled with storm victims are on their way back to the city. The country's navy has sent five ships to continue in rescue efforts.

The city's border guard on Saturday reported that Typhoon Chanchu sank seven fishing boats, leaving 25 people dead. Another fishing vessel on the way back to the city is reported to carry 60 victims, including 25 dead. The vessel is scheduled to arrive in Da Nang today.

Sources at Da Nang city's People's Committee said that the city provided each victim's family with VND2mil and each injured person with VND500,000. It also gave each rescue ship VND10mil and each sailor aboard these ships VND500,000.

According to lieutenant colonel Nguyen Dinh Lien, head of the Da Nang Coast Guard Post No. 248, twelve Taiwanese ships, four vessels from Da Nang and one from Quang Nam were involved in search and rescue activities shortly after the storm struck the area. They picked up nearly 70 Vietnamese fishermen, 20 of them dead and seven seriously injured.

He said Chinese rescue teams began a search and rescue mission for Vietnamese victims on Friday as requested by a diplomatic dispatch from Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Vietnam Fatherland Front President Pham The Duyet yesterday sent a message to sympathise with the cities, provinces and families of victims.

Duyet said the Front thanked the relevant Chinese bodies and people for their active co-ordination of the search and rescue of Vietnamese sailors.

The Front will grant every family of the deceased fishermen VND1mil through its branches in cities and provinces.

(Source: Viet Nam News)