Nghệ An Authorities Stop Search For Missing Fishermen After Six Days

On March 25, 2025, authorities in Nghệ An province decided to officially halt the search for three missing fishermen after over six days of intensive efforts. This decision was confirmed by Trung tá Nguyễn Ngọc Thìn, the head of Quỳnh Thuận Border Station, in light of no significant findings during the operation.

The tragic incident occurred on the morning of March 19, 2025, when a fishing boat, NA-80209-TS, captained by Nguyễn Văn Cương (45 years old) from Văn Hải commune in Quỳnh Lưu district, reported an urgent situation with a punctured hull as it was entering a lagoon. At the time of the accident, there were four crew members aboard. Local fishermen from Văn Hải immediately alerted authorities about the sinking.

In response to the distress call, the Quỳnh Thuận Border Station quickly mobilized resources, coordinating with local fishing vessels nearby to initiate search and rescue operations. Approximately ten fishing boats joined the efforts, demonstrating a strong community response to assist in the rescue operations.

By 9:30 AM on March 19, the efforts bore some fruit when a fisherman from Hà Tĩnh successfully rescued Trần Văn Hữu, the boat's mechanic born in 1995, while he was adrift in the ocean at coordinates 18°30'N - 106°01'E. However, the remaining three crew members—Nguyễn Văn Cương, Lê Tuấn Anh (20 years old, also from Văn Hải), and Bùi Sỹ Nhất (48 years old, from Thuận Long commune)—were not located despite extensive search efforts.

Throughout the six-day search, the Ministry of National Defense had deployed additional resources, which included ships from the Coast Guard Command and Hải đoàn 38, as well as two border guard vessels operated by Nghệ An Border Guard Command. Furthermore, Đồn Biên Phòng Quỳnh Thuận mobilized a ST 750 canoe with eight officers and soldiers to assist in the search efforts.

Despite this significant mobilization of military and civilian resources, the decision to end the search was made due to the continued lack of results, prompting concerns for the families and communities of the missing fishermen. Trung tá Nguyễn Ngọc Thìn further reported that, even though the formal search had ceased, there was a directive for local fishing vessels to remain vigilant and report any suspicious signs or possible discoveries in the area. "Dù tạm dừng tìm kiếm, chúng tôi vẫn chỉ đạo các tàu cá nếu phát hiện dấu hiệu nghi vấn lập tức báo cáo," said Trung tá Thìn, highlighting the ongoing commitment to ensuring safety at sea.

The three missing fishermen, who remain unaccounted for, have left their communities worried and concerned. As their families hold onto hope, local officials are reinforcing patrols along the coastline and keep monitoring the waters to safeguard against future incidents and to provide necessary support to fishermen navigating increasingly uncertain ocean conditions.

This unfortunate event underscores the inherent dangers faced by those in the fishing industry, especially with unpredictable sea conditions, and emphasizes the importance of ongoing safety measures and preparedness for future marine operations in the region.