The Sri Lankan navy recently discovered 14 bodies in a Chinese fishing boat that capsized early this month with 39 crew members aboard. The Lu Peng Yuan Yu 028 had 17 Chinese, 17 Indonesians, and five Filipinos aboard when it overturned on May 16. Australian search-and-rescue teams conducted their search 5,000 kilometres west of Perth, where they reportedly found no signs of survivors. Experts have noted that the Cyclone Fabian, which saw waves as high as seven metres and winds as strong as 120 kilometres per hour, was responsible for the unfortunate incident. The ship had been authorised to fish for Pacific saury and neon flying squid and was owned by the Penglai Jinglu Fishery Company.
Photos released by the navy show inspection divers recovering two bodies and spotting 12 more from inside the upturned hull of the sunken boat. The navy has released a statement citing the difficulty of retrieving the remains of the deceased due to their locations, as well as potential health hazards posed by having to operate in contaminated waters that require protective gear.
The nationalities of the located remains have yet to be disclosed. However, they have been mapped and handed over to Chinese authorities who have since conducted a preliminary inquiry that found that there were no survivors.
This recent discovery highlights the perilous risks fishermen take to earn a living, given that similar incidents, such as this one, have occurred in the past.
Posted in Metro News Africa
