More than 20 people were reported missing after a ship sank off the coast of Cambodia, a Cambodian official said Friday.
The ship was carrying 41 Chinese nationals and encountered problems near the town of Sihanoukville, in southwestern Preah Sihanouk province, the spokesman for Kheang Phearom province said, according to the French news agency.
Only 18 people were rescued and the search “of the 23 missing persons” continued, he added.
The once quiet fishing village of Sihanoukville has undergone a massive transformation in recent years following strong Chinese investment, including the opening of dozens of casinos.
However, there are increasing reports of Chinese workers being illegally put to work in the city.
Speaking to Cambodian media, provincial police chief Chion Narin said a representative of the people on board reported that they had left China on a speedboat on September 11 from a port in southeastern Guangdong province.
Almost a week later, they were transferred to a wooden boat by two Cambodian crew members, the police chief said, before the boat began to sink after a breakdown on Thursday.
The official added that a fishing boat caught two Cambodians and left, abandoning the passengers.
According to the same spokesperson, those two Cambodian nationals were detained for questioning.
Source: DN
