Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh sent a message of condolence to the Party Committees and people in the city of Da Nang and the central coastal provinces of Quang Nam and Quang Ngai.

The Party leader expressed his deep sympathy for local victims in the central coastal provinces who suffered heavy human and property losses because of Typhoon Chanchu. Mr Manh also asked the municipal and provincial party committees to instruct relevant agencies in these localities to implement the Prime Minister’s urgent message, closely co-ordinate with the Central Rescue Forces and border guards to continue searching for the missing, and carry out rescue work effectively, while sending condolences to victims’ families and organising funeral services for the dead.

Mr Manh also wished that the Party Committees and people in the affected cities and provinces would soon overcome their losses and stabilise people’s lives in order to continue implementing their socio-economic development tasks successfully, and contributing to fulfilling the main goals and tasks of the 2006 national plan.

The same day, the Vietnam Fatherland Front sent condolences to the affected localities and people, providing each victim’s family with VND1 million.

Also on May 21, the National Committee for Search and Rescue held a meeting in Da Nang with representatives from central provinces and cities, the Border Guard High Command, and the third-zone Navy force to discuss urgent measures to overcome the consequences of Typhoon Chanchu.

According to official information released at the meeting, as many as 18 ships have sunk or are still missing with 287 fishermen on board, including 174 survivors and 113 dead or missing.

The conference was told that three rescue ships of the navy force are searching for the victims near where three fishing ships of Da Nang capsized with 115 people on board, of whom 18 people have lost their lives. These ships of Da Nang city are now on the way back to the mainland with assistance from Chinese rescue teams.

In the afternoon of May 21, the Vietnam maritime rescue centre (zone 2) sent two rescue ships to help them bring the victims ashore. It is expected that the above rescue ships will dock at Han river port on May 23.

The same day, the Da Nang municipal Party Committee held an urgent meeting with the Party Committee and authorities of Thanh Khe district to tackle problems relating to the losses caused by Typhoon Chanchu. Most victims were identified to be from Thanh Khe Dong, Thanh Khe Tay and Xuan Ha communes of Thanh Khe district. Initial reports showed that Da Nang city had the largest number of ships in distress, while Quang Nam province had the largest number of dead and missing fishermen.

On May 21, Da Nang city claimed to have 10 ships sunk or still missing with 198 victims. Quang Nam province had two ships missing with 40 victims. However, the number of its labourers working for fishing ships of other localities whom were reported missing reached 113. Quang Ngai province had five fishing ships sunk or still missing with 43 victims, of whom 22 were already rescued and one dead.

The same day, Chinese television reported on Chinese rescue ships involved in the search for Vietnamese victims. So far, 21 Vietnamese fishing ships have been rescued with more than 500 fishermen on board.

The Sea Search and Rescue Centre of China under the Chinese Ministry of Transport sent a ship carrying food, safe water, medicine and fuel supplies to where Vietnamese fishermen were in distress. After 10 hours of searching, in the morning of May 20 it found three Vietnamese fishing ships and rescued 97 fishermen while 18 others were already dead.