Workers were forced to abandon the sunken industrial vessel after Typhoon Chaba caused dangerous conditions in the South China Sea, hampering rescue efforts.
Dramatic aerial footage showed people being hoisted into a helicopter by emergency crews, with at least three of the 30 crew members being airlifted to safety at around 17:30 local time on Saturday (around 10:30 GMT).
The disaster occurred about 300 kilometers (186 miles) south of Hong Kong.
Typhoon Chamba, the first of the year to hit China, is set to bring record rainfall and a high risk of disaster to provinces including Guangdong, located about 137 kilometers (85 miles) from Hong Kong.
Hong Kong’s civil aviation authority, which dispatched six aircraft, said crew members were experiencing difficulties from the storm.
Chaba, the Thai name for the hibiscus flower, made landfall in western Guangdong on Saturday afternoon local time, the National Meteorological Center said.
Although the storm’s strength has now been downgraded, “extremely strong” downpours are expected to bring up to 24 inches (600 mm) of rain in some areas.
“Abundant monsoonal water vapor will lead to heavy rainfall and massive cumulative rainfall of an extreme nature,” NMC chief meteorologist Gao Shuanzhu said.
Image: The ship sank after splitting in two. Photo: AP
Hong Kong authorities issued the typhoon warning on Thursday as Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the city to mark the 25th anniversary of its handover from Britain to China.
The Palace Museum, which will open on Saturday as part of celebrations to mark the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover to Chinese rule, remained closed.
Read more:
Japan plunges into hottest temperatures in 150 years At least 14 dead, 30 missing after landslide in India
The treacherous conditions also forced businesses to close and caused problems for public transport networks.
Extreme weather, including unusually severe flooding, has been predicted in China until August, with climate change said to be partly to blame.
