Crew members of Vessel 637 search for a missing fisherman in the waters off Phú Quốc Island in An Giang Province. — VNA/VNS Photo

AN GIANG — The body of a second fisherman believed to have fallen overboard from a fishing vessel discovered empty at sea off Phú Quốc Island in An Giang Province earlier this week was found on Wednesday morning.

Authorities said the body was recovered by a search team from Naval Region 5 Command working with border guards and local residents.

The fishing vessel AG 62009 TS was discovered on Monday afternoon circling aimlessly off Phú Quốc Island with no one at the helm.

According to preliminary information, two fishermen had been on board the boat when it left port, prompting authorities to suspect that both had fallen into the sea.

The body of the first fisherman was recovered on Tuesday morning.

Working in coordination with the An Thới Port Border Guard Station and local fishing vessels in An Giang Province, the Naval Region 5 Command search team found the second victim's body about 2km south of Mũi Hanh on Phú Quốc Island.

The second body was taken to An Thới Fishing Port and handed over to the relevant authorities for procedures in accordance with regulations.

The search operation began immediately after the empty vessel was discovered, and involved the navy's Vessel 637 and Boat 2203, which joined forces with the border guard station and numerous local fishing boats to find the victims.

Following verification by the authorities, the two bodies recovered on Tuesday and Wednesday were confirmed to be those of the two fishermen who had been aboard the fishing boat AG 62009 TS. — VNS