The Vietnamese vessel "Khoi Nguyen 18" sank after encountering distress in waters near Yongshu Reef in the Nansha Qundao in the South China Sea. A total of 44 people have been rescued as of 11 a.m. on Sunday, the authorities of China's Sansha City said.

A total of 62 people were aboard the vessel when the accident occurred, the authorities said.