Authorities sent planes and helicopters to help with the rescue. At least three people from the 30-strong crew had been brought to safety by 17:30 local time (10:30 GMT). Photos released by Hong Kong’s Government Aviation Authority showed a crew member being dragged to a rescue helicopter as large waves battered the sinking ship. The engineering vessel, which was 160 nautical miles (296 kilometers) southwest of Hong Kong, “suffered significant damage and broke into two pieces” and the 30-member crew abandoned ship, according to the Flying Service. Subscribe to First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7am. BST Flying Service did not release the name or origin of the craft. It said in a statement that crew members were negotiating difficulties caused by severe tropical storm Chaba, with maximum winds of 110 km/h (68 mph). The three survivors said other crew members may have been swept away by the waves before the first helicopter arrived, according to a government statement. The storm made landfall in the western part of the coastal province of Guangdong later on Saturday. The Flying Service sent two fixed-wing aircraft and four helicopters to the rescue effort. Rescuers said they would increase the search area “due to the large number of people missing” and extend the operation into the night if conditions allow.
