A Vietnamese cargo vessel, the Khoi Nguyen 18, sank in the South China Sea near Fiery Cross Reef, leaving 23 people missing and 39 rescued.The incident occurred on July 26, 2026, with Chinese and Vietnamese rescue teams working together.The vessel, carrying 62 Vietnamese nationals, sent a distress flare spotted by a Chinese rescue ship.Six Chinese vessels, a helicopter, and a Vietnamese ship joined the search.

The area is part of the disputed Spratly Islands, where China claims sovereignty, overlapping with Vietnam, the Philippines, and other nations' claims.The incident highlights ongoing tensions in the resource-rich South China Sea, where militarized islands and strategic waterways remain contentious.Authorities are still searching for the missing, emphasizing the complexity of maritime rescue operations in disputed waters.