A number of residents of Binh Chau Commune, Quang Ngai Province have not wasted any time searching for valuables at the site of a recently-discovered shipwreck.
Dozens of boats in search of buried treasure
Thousands of people flocked to the shore as soon as the news got out on August 16.
While search equipment has been brought to the area and some old pottery was recovered, many items were damaged in the clamour of those in search of valuables. The scene was only brought under control after border guards and police arrived.
According to divers, this ship is about six metres wide and 25 metres long, and buried 0.5 metres under sand.
Some items found at the site
Doan Ngoc Khoi, deputy head of Quang Ngai Province Museum, said the items appeared to have originated from Guangdong, China, and approximated the date to the 16th century.
"This was likely another merchant vessel trying to find safety near the shore but was sunk by bad weather," he said.
Nguyen Dang Vu, head of Quang Ngai Province Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, assured that there are adequate guards to protect the site and that it will be properly excavated as quickly as possible.
Last year, authorities in Quang Ngai Province selected the Doan Anh Duong Company for the job of excavation of another shipwreck site in the province.