HONG KONG—The chance of finding 27 crew members alive from a vessel that snapped in two as tropical storm Chaba passed through Hong Kong and southern China is “very slim,” government rescue authorities said on Sunday, as the search for those missing continued.
On Saturday, authorities rescued three of 30 crew members as strong winds and rain battered the coast and waters about 300 km (200 miles) southwest of the city, Hong Kong Government Flying Service said.
The site of the incident was surrounded by about 100 wind turbines that, compounded with gusts reaching up to 140 km per hour, had hampered rescue efforts.
Rescuers lift a crew member of a sinking vessel into a helicopter, after it snapped in two as tropical storm Chaba passed through, according to authorities, in waters off Hong Kong on July 2, 2022. (Hong Kong Government Flying Service/Handout via Reuters)
The search area had been widened but the chance of finding survivors was “very slim”, West Wu, controller of the Government Flying Service of Hong Kong, said on Sunday….