
SANYA, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Ten crew members have been rescued after abandoning a cargo ship that was listing to one side in the South China Sea, according to the provincial maritime search and rescue center of Hainan.
The center received a report at 5 p.m. Monday that the ship, registered in Sierra Leone and carrying 3,000 tonnes of rice, was listing in waters off the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea, as it made its way from Vietnam to Malaysia.
Following the captain's order to abandon the ship, the 10 crew members, eight Filipinos and two Chinese, boarded a life raft.
After receiving the report, China's Ministry of Transport and authorities in Hainan Province sent three ships to join the rescue operation.
At 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, all 10 crew members were rescued. They were in a normal condition, although one of them had sustained a minor shoulder injury. They are now on their way to Yantian Port in Shenzhen and are expected to arrive on Thursday.
"The successful rescue is a test of China's ability to safeguard the navigation safety of international ships in the South China Sea. It fully demonstrates China's commitment to rescue operations in the region," said Wu Pingsheng, an official of the rescue center in Hainan.
Fire brigade in Shanghai holds group wedding
Tourists enjoy ice sculptures in Datan Town, north China
Sunset scenery of Dayan Pagoda in Xi'an
Tourists have fun at scenic spot in Nanlong Town, NW China
Harbin attracts tourists by making best use of ice in winter
In pics: FIS Alpine Ski Women's World Cup Slalom
Black-necked cranes rest at reservoir in Lhunzhub County, Lhasa
China's FAST telescope will be available to foreign scientists in April
"She power" plays indispensable role in poverty alleviation
Top 10 world news events of People's Daily in 2020
Top 10 China news events of People's Daily in 2020
Top 10 media buzzwords of 2020
Year-ender:10 major tourism stories of 2020
No interference in Venezuelan issues
Biz prepares for trade spat
Broadcasting Continent
Australia wins Chinese CEOs as US loses