TWO people from the Chinese fishing vessel which sank in the central Indian Ocean were confirmed dead while China on Thursday appreciated the help from a host of countries in the region, including India, who responded to its call for search and rescue operations for the remaining 37 missing sailors. Two people were confirmed dead after the Chinese deep-sea fishing vessel Lupeng Yuanyu 028 capsized in the Indian Ocean on Tuesday, China’s Ministry of Transport said on Thursday.

The Indian Navy said it deployed a P-8I maritime patrol aircraft to help in the search and rescue of a Chinese fishing vessel. The P8I aircraft carried out multiple and extensive searches on Wednesday despite adverse weather and located multiple objects possibly belonging to the sunken vessel, the Navy said. So far 10 vessels, including three Chinese navy ships and one foreign ship, are carrying out on-site search and rescue work, and more ships will arrive. The capsized vessel had 39 people on board, including 17 Chinese, 17 Indonesian and five Philippine mariners.

Countries such as Australia, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, the Maldives and the Philippines have extended emergency assistance and sent sympathies for the Chinese boat and crew, he said, providing an update about the search operations.

The operation has been commended from various quarters in China and abroad. “The Chinese Government sincerely appreciates the help from those countries,” he said.