ISTANBUL

After an intense three-day search, a dozen bodies were recovered on Monday off the coast of southern China where a Chinese engineering vessel broke down over the weekend.

Guangdong Maritime Search and Rescue Centre said in a statement to the Chinese daily Global Times that 12 bodies “have been found in the area which is 50 nautical miles southwest of the sinking place.”

Another missing crew member was rescued early Monday, bringing the total to four, while the fate of 14 others remains unknown.

The vessel, named Fujing 001, was being used for offshore wind power project construction when 10-meter-high Typhoon Chaba swept through Hong Kong at 144 km/h on Saturday. The strong waves broke the anchor chain, sinking the vessel carrying 30 crew members.

The rescue mission is jointly being carried on by mainland China’s Transport Ministry and Hong Kong Government Flying Service.

The overnight disaster occurred some 300 kilometers (186.4 miles) southwest of Hong Kong.

Chinese authorities at the Emergency Management Ministry said the accident “exposed the weak links in typhoon safety management.”

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