Search and rescue operations continue off the coasts of Binh Dinh as efforts intensify to locate two missing fishermen. The two fishermen went overboard from separate fishing vessels earlier this month, prompting urgent search efforts by fellow fishers and local authorities.
At dawn on February 21, 2025, the fishing boat BĐ 94563 TS—owned by local fisherman Nguyễn Nhâm from Mỹ Thành—was operating approximately 172 nautical miles from Côn Đảo when crew member Lê Thanh Tiến, born in 1989, fell overboard and was reported missing. The vessel had embarked from Vũng Tàu on February 16 with 24 crew members onboard. Despite the immediate checks and attempts by other nearby boats to locate him, Tiến's whereabouts remain unknown.
Meanwhile, another maritime distress incident occurred on February 20, 2025, when Võ Văn Tín, aged 49, fell from the fishing vessel BĐ 97731 TS. This boat was conducting long-line fishing approximately 90 nautical miles southwest of Song Tử Tây. BĐ 97731 TS, owned by Lê Văn Thái, had departed from the Tam Quan Border Control Station just two days earlier. Tín's disappearance has left the fishing community and his family anxiously waiting for news.
"The Binh Dinh Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue Committee urges all nearby vessels to assist in the search for the two missing fishermen at sea," reported the provincial authorities. Their call highlights the challenging nature of search operations undertaken by local fishers, as conditions at sea can quickly change.
Currently, multiple vessels, including BĐ 94017 TS and BĐ 97107 TS, are aiding the search efforts for Lê Thanh Tiến and Võ Văn Tín, yet the overall outcomes have not yielded any significant leads. Lê Văn Thái, the owner of BĐ 97731 TS, expressed his concern, stating, "There have been no positive outcomes from the search yet, but we remain hopeful for their swift return." His sentiment reflects the unity and determination of the fishing community during such harrowing times.
With operations still underway, the focus stays on the search and rescue, as maritime safety remains of utmost importance. The fishing boats continuing to aid the search are not just vessels; they are extensions of the community’s resolve to support one another.
Authorities and local fishermen are committed to leaving no stone unturned, reinforcing the need for adherence to safety practices to prevent similar incidents. This unfortunate situation serves as both a call to action and reflection on the risks inherent to maritime occupations.
While hope remains as palpable as the sea breeze, this incident knits together the threads of community solidarity and the silent prayers of families awaiting their loved ones' safe return. The search, now heightened, reminds everyone of the precariousness of life at sea and the enduring human spirit to protect, rescue, and bring home the missing.