After overnight efforts, by Monday morning, the 47 Vietnamese crew members rescued from a sunken ship in the South China Sea by Chinese rescuers had been transferred to the Vietnamese side, with all of them receiving proper care.
China's rescue vessel Nanhai Jiu 115 transferred 41 survivors to a Vietnamese vessel on Sunday, while rescue helicopter B-72CT airlifted the remaining six in two flights on Monday morning, completing the handover of all 47 rescued Vietnamese crew members.
While awaiting transfer, Chinese rescuers cleaned and disinfected the wounds of the injured crew members, provided anti-inflammatory medicine and ginger soup, and accompanied them throughout to ensure they could rest well. The rescued crew members expressed their gratitude to China in handwritten letters.
The Khoi Nguyen 18, a Vietnamese-flagged ship, was carrying 62 people when it sank while operating in unfavorable weather conditions in waters near Yongshu Island of the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea.
China hands over 47 Vietnamese crew rescued from South China Sea shipwreck
International crude oil prices plunged more than 6 percent at the start of the new trading week, as investors reacted to the pause in U.S.-Iran military strikes.
As of 18:43 EDT (22:43 GMT) on Sunday, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for September delivery fell to an intraday low of 83.10 U.S. dollars per barrel, down 6.21 dollars, or 6.95 percent. Brent crude for September delivery dropped to an intraday low of 89.58 dollars per barrel, down 7.20 dollars, or 7.44 percent.
The market relief also lifted U.S. stock index futures significantly, while gold and silver futures posted notable gains.
In Asian trading on Monday, oil prices extended losses amid reports that Pakistan was pushing to restart U.S.-Iran talks, fueling optimism over de‑escalation in the Middle East.
As of 06:20 Beijing time Monday (22:20 GMT Sunday), WTI crude for September delivery was trading at 84.88 dollars per barrel, down 4.96 percent, while Brent crude for September delivery stood at 92.04 dollars per barrel, down 4.90 percent.
The pullback came after U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday ordered the U.S. military not to carry out strikes on Iran that day, breaking a 13‑day streak of consecutive U.S. air attacks on Iranian targets, according to media reports.
Iran confirmed on Sunday it had halted retaliatory attacks after the United States stopped its strikes over the past two nights.
Oil prices plunge over 6 pct as US-Iran hostilities pause
