48 Vietnamese rescued off south China coast

A total of 48 Vietnamese crew members of six cargo ships have been saved in waters off south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, local border police said Tuesday.

The Vietnamese vessels capsized or ran aground on Monday afternoon in the sea near the city of Fangchenggang due to stormy weather and huge waves. Some sailors fell into water and some were stranded on a grounded ship.

Local border police, together with maritime and fishery personnel, braved heavy rains and strong winds to get to the site Monday afternoon and saved 41 Vietnamese crews from water by Monday evening.

Seven other crew members were saved from the cockpit of a grounded ship on Tuesday morning after the huge waves receded.