Quảng Yên Town's officials during the search for the victim's body on Thursday. VNA/VNS Photo

QUẢNG NINH The body of the missing victim in the crash between two vessels at Quả Xoài Lagoon area has been found, according to Trần Đức Thắng, Chairman of the People's Committee of Quảng Yên Town on Friday.

The deceased Lê Văn Cương (also known as Lê Văn Cấng), who was born in 1983 and who lived in Đông 2 Hamlet, Liên Vị Commune, Quảng Yên Town, was discovered around 5am, close to the site of the collision.

At around 8.30am on Wednesday, Lê Văn Cương and eight others went to cut oysters in the Đèn Ba Lăng waters of Liên Hòa Commune. At approximately 12.30am on Thursday, their boat collided with another ship carrying soil, causing both Cương and another man, Lê Văn Cường, to fall into the sea.

Cường managed to swim and cling to the other ship, but Cương, who could not swim, went missing. The people on the ship immediately organised a search but could not find him.

As soon as the incident report was released, Quảng Yên Town mobilised forces and equipment to search for the victim.

Thắng was present and directly involved in the search and rescue operations, directing forces and urging local residents to come and help. He also coordinated with Thủy Nguyên and Cát Hải districts (Hải Phòng) to assist in looking for the missing person.

However, search efforts were hampered by fluctuating tidal levels and after a day and a night of combing the seas, at dawn on Friday, the authorities found Cương's body near the collision site.

The victim's body has been handed over to the family for funeral arrangements and Quảng Yên Town will implement support policies as per State regulations. VNS