S China Sea typhoon death toll rises to 6
Updated: 2013-10-04 15:52
(Xinhua)
|
|||||||||||
SANSHA - Rescuers on Friday retrieved the bodies of two more fishermen from the South China Sea in the aftermath of Typhoon Wutip, while another 56 remain missing after the typhoon struck on Sunday.
Altogether, six bodies have been found so far.
Rescuers expanded their search areas and launched underwater searches on Friday, according to Chen Zhirong, vice governor of south China's Hainan Province.
Police have identified three of the six fishermen's bodies as of Friday morning.
"We have informed their families of the sad news and we will help them deal with the aftermath," said Chen Jialin, vice mayor of Jiangmen City, Guangdong Province, who is now in Sanya of Hainan Province to help relocate rescued fishermen back to their homes.
At 4 a.m., 54 fishermen from Jiangmen started their journey home by bus and they are expected to arrive at 7 p.m., according to Chen Jialin.
The 54 were among 268 fishermen who were trapped in the South China Sea by Typhoon Wutip and rescued by a navy ship sent by the Chinese government.
The injured from this group have been hospitalized, while more ships have been sent to search for the missing 56, who were aboard three fishing boats that sank near Shanhu Island in the Xisha Islands on Sunday afternoon.
According to the Hainan Maritime Search and Rescue Center, 11 navy warships, eight civilian ships and 10 aircraft are searching the area where the boats sank.
Altogether, five fishing boats, including the three that sank, were caught in Typhoon Wutip on Sunday, said the center.
The fishermen had received typhoon warnings starting on Friday but did not go ashore. Instead, they placed their ships in a lagoon south of Shanhu Island to avoid gales, but the typhoon overturned their boats.
Wutip gathered power, becoming a super typhoon when it swept across nearby waters on Sunday, packing winds of up to 151.2 km per hour at its eye.
Strong gales and waves have hampered the rescue work, but the sea water temperature in the area is over 20 degrees Celsius, which means a higher chance of survival, according to rescuers.
Related Stories
China upgrades alert against typhoon Wutip 2013-09-29 15:46
China on yellow alert as Typhoon Wutip nears 2013-09-29 06:23
Typhoon Usagi kills 30 in South China 2013-09-26 21:47
Typhoon kills 25 in Guangdong 2013-09-24 02:53
HK cancels all typhoon signals 2013-09-23 13:12
Today's Top News
Chinese investment in US grows
Twitter unveils IPO filing, aims to raise $1 b
US hints Iran could get some sanctions relief
Obama cancels APEC trip due to gov't shutdown
'Restrict tourist flow to ensure order'
Chinese tycoon aims to restore Crystal Palace
Hundreds feared dead in boat wrack
Mutual help the best: IMF chief
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
Xi visits Indonesia, Malaysia, attends APEC Summit |
National Day holidays around the world |
Foul air rises over landfill expansion |
Flowing colors of 798 art district |
Investing a nation's wealth wisely |
Nuclear plants see growth |