303 suspected migrants from Sri Lanka rescued off Vietnam

Hanoi, Vietnam: The Agency France reported today that more than 300 suspected migrants from Sri Lanka were rescued off the coast of Vietnam after their boat began taking on water, Vietnamese authorities said Tuesday.

The Myanmar-flagged Lady 3 fishing vessel encountered difficulties around 250 nautical miles ( 468 KM) off Vung Tau on Vietnam’s southern coast, according to Vietnam’s Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center which said the boat was thought to be heading to Canada, about 6,000 nautical miles across the Pacific Ocean.

“There was an issue with the ship which meant water flowed into the engine room and could not be fixed since November 5,” the center said.

After the captain called for help on Monday, Vietnamese authorities asked a Japanese-flagged ship sailing nearby to rescue the Sri Lankans.

The vessel was drifting with many panicked people gathering on the deck, the rescue center said.

All 303 people, including 20 children, were brought safely to Vung Tau.

Foreign debt-ridden Sri Lanka has for months faced severe shortages of food, fuel and medicines along with rampant inflation and running blackouts — after running out of foreign exchange to import essential goods.

Security officials have said the spiraling economic crisis may be encouraging unlawful emigration.

A surge in people-smugalling attempts to Australia by boat prompted the governments of Australia and Sri Lanka to set up a monitoring center.