Around 11:50 a.m., the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (Vietnam MRCC) received a distress call from the GT Unity, a Vietnamese-flagged tanker with a capacity of 7,631 tons. The vessel, carrying FO crude oil from Malaysia to Dung Quat, reported a fire in the engine room's electrical compartment.

The incident occurred 104 nautical miles from Con Dao (TP HCM) and 191 nautical miles from Vung Tau, in an area experiencing strong southwest winds. 16 of the 20 crew members abandoned the tanker, leaving 4 onboard.

The oil tanker with its engine room ablaze near Con Dao. Photo: Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center

The oil tanker with its engine room ablaze near Con Dao. Photo: Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center

Le Do Muoi, Director of the Vietnam Maritime Administration, immediately issued a maritime alert and notified the Navy, Coast Guard, and other relevant agencies to coordinate an emergency search and rescue operation.

The Liberian-flagged vessel Androusa responded to the distress call and rescued all 20 crew members from the burning tanker. One crew member sustained serious injuries.

At 1:15 p.m., the SAR 413 vessel was dispatched from Vung Tau to transport the critically injured crew member back to shore.

Gia Chinh