The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Wednesday, May 24, that it was saddened upon learning the reported death of the crew of a Chinese fishing boat that capsized off the Indian Ocean last week.

(Photo by whatarethe7continents.com via PCG)

Chinese fishing vessel Lu Peng Yuan Yu 028 capsized last May 16 in the Indian Ocean, approximately 2,900 miles northwest of Australia, while carrying 39 crew members: five Filipinos, 17 Chinese, and 17 Indonesians.

A report from the Agence France-Presse quoting China’s transport ministry said that there were no survivors based on the results of the initial investigation conducted by the authorities.

“We are saddened by this development. Since day one, we have been monitoring and coordinating with the Australian Maritime Rescue Center and the Chinese Embassy as to the progress of the search and rescue (SAR) operations," PCG Spokesperson, CG Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said. 

The PCG had deployed three cargo vessels, one fishing boat, and three aircraft to assist in the search and rescue (SAR) operations.

According to reports from foreign media, seven bodies were retrieved on site although their nationalities have yet to be disclosed.

The PCG has also yet to divulge the identities of the Filipino crew pending notice of their families.

However, Vice Adm. Rolando Lizor Punzalan Jr., PCG officer in charge, said they were communicating with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to determine how they can help the families of the five Filipino crew.

“We are coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs to know how we can assist the affected families during this difficult time,” Punzalan said.

He also recognized the efforts of the Australian rescue teams that conducted an extensive search in the Indian Ocean while facing rough sea conditions.

“We thank the Australian SAR teams for their efforts, as we understood the risks they faced while scouring the vast waters amid unpredictable weather conditions,” he stated.