Indian Navy rescues 39 crew from sinking Chinese boat

New Delhi: The Indian Navy deployed a P-8I maritime patrol aircraft to help in the search and rescue of a sinking Chinese fishing vessel with 39 crew members onboard in the Indian Ocean. 

The response from the Indian side came nearly 24 hours after Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Qiang appealed to its diplomats abroad, as well as the agriculture and transportation ministries, to assist in the search for survivors.

The Indian Navy said in a statement that the P8I aircraft carried out multiple and extensive searches despite adverse weather and added it has located multiple objects possibly belonging to the sunken vessel.

"As an immediate response, SAR eqpt was deployed at the scene by the Indian aircraft on request of PLA(N) ships closing the area. In a display of India's obligations as a credible and responsible partner for ensuring safety at sea, the Indian Navy units also coordinated SAR efforts with other units in the area and guided PLA(N) warships transiting to the scene of the incident," tweeted Indian Navy.

Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines have also expressed their willingness to join in the search. Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency said the capsizing occurred about 4,600 kilometers (2,900 miles) northwest of Australia.

Several ships and an Australian Defense Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft have been searching the area. The Indian Ocean stretches from South Asia and the Arabian Peninsula to east Africa and western Australia. No survivors or life rafts have been spotted.

Two bodies were pulled from the ocean on Thursday afternoon by the Chinese navy, China's official Xinhua News Agency reported. No survivors or life rafts have been spotted.

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