Fishermen are provided with food after being stranded on Trường Sa (Spratly) for almost a month. — VNA/VNS Photo

BÌNH THUẬN — More than 500 fishermen stranded near Trường Sa (Spratly) for nearly a month have been provided with fresh water and food by the navy.

The Navy’s 4th Regional Command reported that the naval forces managed to approach the stranded fishermen near Đá Lát (Ladd Reef) and Đá Đông B (East London Reef), and brought the crew members safely ashore on Tuesday morning.

Each fishing boat was provided with 15kg of rice and 60 litres of fresh water, naval command confirmed.

On February 2, 524 fishermen on 131 boats left for the Spratly off southern Bình Thuận Province with enough food and water for 17-20 days.

Bad weather conditions caused by a monsoon resulted in rough seas and strong winds, prevented them from fishing or returning home.

They were forced to shelter in the Đá Lát island area, coping with increasingly worse weather for days while food and freshwater dwindled.

The naval forces received an urgent dispatch to rescue stranded fishermen near the Spratly on Monday. However, adverse weather conditions initially hindered their efforts.

Ships at sea will continue to support the stranded fishermen with rice, instant noodles, sugar, meat, fresh water, and medicines.

The Provincial Border Guard Command coordinated with the People's Committee of Phú Quý district to encourage the captains and crew members.

Rough sea condition with waves of up to five metres and winds of 62-68kph are forecast to continue for the next week near the Phú Quý and the Spratly islands. — VNS