Chinese coast guard, military retrieve 17 Filipino sailors from Huangyan Island shipwreck

A cargo ship carrying 21 Filipino crew members capsized near the Scarborough Shoal, also known as Huangyan Island, in the South China Sea.

The China Coast Guard and the PLA's Southern Theater Command carried out a joint rescue operation, rescuing 17 of them. But two were confirmed dead.

The incident was reported at around 1:30 a.m. on Friday.

The cargo vessel with Filipino crew members capsized in waters near the shoal.

In response, the Southern Theater Command sent military aircraft to search the area, and two Chinese Coast Guard ships were dispatched to conduct search and rescue operations which are ongoing.