Food poisoning kills 12 sailors on Chinese boat off Con Dao islands

The nine, being treated at the Con Dao District medical center Friday afternoon, were in critical condition, doctors said.

When the crew members of the ship, Wuzhou 8 were airlifted by a rescue helicopter to Con Dao (110 km to the southwest) for emergency treatment, 10 had already died. Of the remaining 11, one died on the way to the airport and another arrived dead at the district medical center.

A Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province border guard representative said that the cargo ship was on its way from Thailand to China when the crew were hit by food poisoning, off the Con Dao islands.

Hoyer Tranpost Vietnam Co. Ltd, agent of the Wuzhou 8, sent a notice to the Department of Health of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province to request emergency arrangements for its crew members.

When Wuzhou 8 arrived in Con Dao waters, 18 crew members showed signs of food poisoning. The remaining victims looked seriously ill and in need of immediate treatment, so they were rushed to the mainland and taken to the local medical center.

Hoyer Tranpost Vietnam also requested the Vung Tau Maritime Rescue Center (VungTau MRC) to arrange a helicopter for airlifting the ship's crew.

Tran Tan Loi, director of Hoyer Tranpost Vietnam, told VnExpress that this morning the captain of Wuzhou 8 captain called them for help. The company then contacted the authorities of Con Dao District.

"While people on the ship said they suffered food poisoning, it was not clear what they had consumed," Loi said.

Wuzhou 8, 225 m long, 32 m wide, departed Kohsichan Port (Chonburi Province, Thailand) at 7 p.m. on September 27 with a load of cassava. It was expected to arrive at Lianyungang (Jiangsu Province, China) on October 8.

A rescue ship of the VungTau MRC is on its way to tow the ill-fated ship to a safe location. It’s expected to reach the ship at 9 p.m., Friday, local officials said.