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In the search and rescue operation for six missing crew members of a sand barge sunken yesterday, Fire Services Department's divers today (December 8) found a male body.
The body was discovered inside the accommodation structure of the sunken vessel by the divers at about noon.
The sand barge sank with 14 crew members on board following a collision with a container vessel east of Tung Lung Chau at about 3am yesterday.
The Marine Department's Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre coordinated a search and rescue operation while the Director of Marine ordered an investigation into the collision.
Nine crew members of the stricken sand barge have so far been located, including three dead. Four male crew members and one female crew member are still missing.
Searches for the missing crew continued today with the Marine Police, Fire Services Department and Marine Department deploying vessels for sea surface searches and divers of the Fire Services Department conducting underwater searches. Also, the Government Flying Service is using a fixed-wing plane and a helicopter to search from the air.
The Guangdong Rescue and Co-ordination Centre found the sand barge's Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) in Dangan Shuidao. The centre will keep searching in the area. The Government Flying Service extended the searches to Dangan Shuidao.
Ends/Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Issued at HKT 19:35
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