Vietnamese authorities have recovered the body of one victim following the sinking of the Khoi Nguyen 18, according to Pham Thu Hang, spokesperson for Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Responding to questions on the search and rescue operation for the vessel's Vietnamese crew, Hang said 48 Vietnamese crew members returned safely to shore on the afternoon of July 29 and have since been reunited with their families.
The survivors were rescued through a coordinated operation involving Chinese and Vietnamese authorities after the Khoi Nguyen 18 encountered distress.
Hang said Vietnamese authorities have now recovered the body of one victim.
Search and rescue teams are continuing efforts to locate the remaining missing crew members with what Hang described as the highest level of determination.
She added that, alongside Chinese and Vietnamese rescue teams operating at the scene, Philippine authorities had also participated in the search operation.
"We would like to express our sincere appreciation for the attention and active support provided by our international friends in these search and rescue efforts," Hang said.
The Khoi Nguyen 18 sank while operating in severe weather conditions in the East Sea. There were 62 people on board when the vessel went down.
