Search for 74 missing after typhoon sinks fishing boats

A wounded fisherman is carried out from a helicopter upon his arrival in Sanya, south China's Island of Hainan Province, Sept. 30, 2013. Five fishermen were transferred to Sanya on Monday by helicopters after they were saved from boats sinking in the Xisha Islands. Search is ongoing in the South China Sea amid strong gales for 74 people missing after three fishing boats have sunk since Sunday afternoon due to the Typhoon Wutip. (Xinhua/Zhang Yongfeng)

Search and rescue operations are underway for 74 crew missing after Typhoon Wutip, the 21st of the season, sank three fishing boats in the South China Sea.

The boats, all from south China's Guangdong Province with 88 fishermen aboard, were lost near Shanhu Island of the Xisha Islands, about 330 kilometers from China's island province of Hainan, according to sources with the Hainan Maritime Search and Rescue Center.

As of noon yesterday, rescuers had recovered 14 survivors. Four injured fishermen taking refuge at Chenhang Island were taken to Sansha Municipal People's Hospital by helicopter.

"Strong gales will continue to hit the region, which will cause big trouble for the rescue," said Wang Qingyan, an official with the Hainan provincial marine forecast center.

"Rescue ships that cannot resist strong gales cannot go to sea," said Wang. "Big waves prevent rescue ships from approaching and pose great risks."

The Chinese Navy's Nanhai Fleet has sent seven warships, a helicopter and 10 rescue teams to search the waters around the scene.

Two helicopters from Hong Kong were also taking part in the rescue but had yet to find any survivors.

Altogether five fishing boats with a total of 171 people aboard were caught up in Typhoon Wutip, according to the Hainan Maritime Search and Rescue Center.

Four were confirmed to be from Taishan City in Guangdong Province. The other was from Hong Kong.

Two sank at about 7:20pm on Sunday and the third at 9:20am yesterday. One fisherman managed to swim to Yagong Island and raised the alarm. The other 27 people on his boat are still missing.

The fourth ship had lost power but was operational again at 11:30am and was taking part in the search for survivors.

Fishermen on the Hong Kong boat were all safe.

A Ministry of Transport aircraft was also taking part in the rescue.

Currently, a total of 277 fishermen trapped by the typhoon are being looked after by soldiers based on Chenhang Island.

As of noon yesterday, 52 ships had taken shelter in waters close to the islands of Chenhang and Shanhu.

The government of Sansha City has mobilized 350 island residents and soldiers as well as nearby ships to help in the search. The Hainan provincial government has sent six planes and 10 ships to the scene.

President Xi Jinping urged local authorities to do their utmost to find the missing or stranded and minimize casualties.

Xi also ordered the armed forces and central government departments to help in the rescue.

Premier Li Keqiang asked local authorities to ensure the safety of rescue personnel.

Wutip, which has weakened to a tropical storm, made landfall in central Vietnam last night, uprooting trees and damaging more than 1,000 houses. There was no immediate word of injuries or major structural damage.