Vietnam’s Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre has successfully evacuated two elderly Japanese passengers from the Pacific World, a Panama-flagged cruise ship travelling from Singapore to Taiwan.
On the evening of March 22, the centre received a distress report from the vessel that an 83-year-old male passenger was in critical condition. He was suffering from acute respiratory failure and severe pneumonia, requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation.
Shortly afterwards, the ship’s captain reported a second case involving a 79-year-old female passenger who showed symptoms of pneumonia and breathing difficulties, and required urgent medical attention.
Two Japanese passengers receiving emergency care (Photo: VMRCC).
In response, rescue authorities deployed the specialised vessel SAR 272 to intercept the Pacific World and transfer both patients ashore for emergency care.
Throughout the journey, medical personnel administered intensive resuscitation measures and closely monitored the patients’ conditions.
Vietnamese maritime rescue forces approaching the cruise ship (Photo: VMRCC).
At 3.30 pm on March 23, both patients were admitted to Vung Tau General Hospital for emergency treatment and specialised care.