[Central News Agency] 303 Sri Lankans called for help after smuggling to Canada due to a fishing boat failure that caused the boat to sink into the water and float near Vietnam.

A Japanese ship rushed to rescue the people after being informed, and Vietnam also sent ships to support, and the people on board were finally sent to Vung Tau, Vietnam.

Online media Vietnam Express (VnExpress) reported that the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center said on the 8th that it received a notification from the Sri Lankan Search and Rescue Center on the 7th that there was a Lady R3 flying the Myanmar flag and suspected of carrying more than 300 Sri Lankans from Myanmar to Canada. fishing boat in distress.

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The report pointed out that the fishing boat Lady R3 sailed about 258 nautical miles southeast of the cape of Vung Tau, Vietnam, on the 5th, when the hull was flooded due to a malfunction.

At that time, the weather was very bad, and the wind reached 6 to 7 and there were big waves.

The captain then sent a distress message to rescue agencies.

After receiving the message, the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center asked the Ho Chi Minh City Coastal Broadcasting Station to contact the fishing boat Lady R3, and called for nearby ships to come to support.

At 3:00 p.m. on the 7th, after receiving a request, the nearby Japanese ship Helios Leader diverted to the area where the fishing boat was in distress.

About 40 minutes later, the Helios Leader successfully approached the drifting fishing boat Lady R3, when the crew panicked and rushed to the deck.

The crew of the Japanese ship rescued the smuggled people and gave them care and first aid.

Vietnam's maritime search and rescue agency then mobilized five ships for support.

At 7 p.m. on the 7th, 303 Sri Lankans (264 men, 19 women and 20 children) aboard the fishing boat Lady R3 safely boarded the Helios Leader vessel.

On the afternoon of the 8th, the rescue boat took the people on the smuggling fishing boat to the Vung Tau pier and handed it over to the relevant local authorities.

(Editor: Chen Zhengyi) 1111109