By Wale Odunsi
Dozens of sailors have been declared missing after a Chinese fishing vessel capsized in the Indian Ocean.
Onboard the vessel were 39 people, 17 Chinese crew members, 17 Indonesians and 5 Filipinos.
A search and rescue operation has been launched, according to the new Xinhua News Agency.
President Xi Jinping has ordered that all efforts be made to find survivors of the ill-fated “Lupeng Yuanyu 028”.
The distant-water fishing vessel is owned by Penglai Jinglu Fishery Co Ltd based in Shandong province.
China’s maritime search and rescue centre has informed countries near the ocean of the accident.
The Foreign Ministry has also directed its missions in Australia, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Indonesia, the Philippines and others to coordinate operations
