China joins India search for 22 missing after cargo ship sinks

The Indian Coast Guard announced on Tuesday that Chinese authorities are now assisting in the search for 22 missing crew members of the MV Ocean Winner, a cargo vessel that sank in the Bay of Bengal last week. The MV Ocean Winner, carrying 24 crew members including 20 Chinese nationals, was sailing from Paradip port in eastern India's Odisha state to Singapore when it sent a distress signal on Saturday.

The vessel reported difficulties approximately 700 kilometers east of Visakhapatnam, triggering a rescue operation by Indian authorities. Two individuals have been rescued thus far, leaving 22 still unaccounted for. The missing crew members hail from China, Myanmar, and Bangladesh, with three from Myanmar and one from Bangladesh.

Despite locating an emergency beacon associated with the vessel, rescuers have not yet discovered any additional survivors, according to Commandant Amit Uniyal of the Indian Coast Guard. Search and rescue efforts have been bolstered in coordination with China's Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC Beijing). A lifeboat from the MV Ocean Winner has been spotted, but no survivors were found on board.

Local media reports suggest that two Chinese vessels have joined the search operation. However, the cause of the sinking remains undetermined at this time.