(VOVworld) – The waters around Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago in Khanh Hoa province lie on an important international maritime route running through the East Sea. This is also one of Vietnam’s traditional fishing grounds. To support fishermen and protect them when they go offshore fishing, a rescue force for the Truong Sa waters has been established on local its islands.

(Photo: Duc Tho/VNA)

During the initial days of 2016, Truong Sa Town Clinic is treating three fishermen who have appendicitis and abdominal pain. Tran Van Nhan, who works on a Quang Ngai fishing boat, said that one month into a fishing voyage, he got a stomachache and was sent back to the island for emergency first aid. Diagnosed with acute appendicitis, he underwent surgery. After one week he was discharged from the clinic.

32-year-old Tran Ngoc Quang of Nghe An province is undergoing treatment at the Truong Sa Town Clinic. While on an offshore fishing voyage, he suffered a severe stomachache and was rescued by members of the Truong Sa Marine Rescue Coordination Center. His 2-hour surgery was successful.

“I’m recovering now. The doctors and nurses are whole-hearted about rescuing and helping patients. I’m fully provided with medicine every day. It costs me nothing,” Quang said.

There’s always a task force on duty in Truong Sa Town to conduct maritime search and rescue.

Senior lieutenant Tran Duc Thuan of the Truong Sa search and rescue center said its soldiers and staff are on duty round the clock.

Thuan added they are always “ready to provide rescue for any domestic or foreign boats which pass by Truong Sa archipelago and are in distress and send emergency signals. We’ve been part of the search and rescue force of the Southeast Asian region since it was set up in 2006.”

Ship coded SAR 413 is towing ashore a distressed fishing boat. (Photo: vtc.vn)

Last year alone, the search and rescue force of Truong Sa Town saved and cared for 535 people. Nguyen Van Tuan, the town’s leader, said the local authorities and soldiers have always considered rescue works a primary task.

“We are in charge of a great number of fishing boats that do offshore fishing in these waters. Due to extreme weather, they often face health or mechanical emergencies. We always give them timely help for even the smallest injury,” Tuan explained.

Another member of the Truong Sa search and rescue center, Senior lieutenant Tran Ngoc Thuan, had this to say: “despite difficulties, we’re always ready to go out to sea to rescue fishermen. In an emergency, we don’t care about our health or anything else.”

Over the past decade Truong Sa authorities have invested in rescue equipment and training for the center’s soldiers.