12 sailors, crew rescued from rough sea
PBC News: Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) have rescued 12 sailors and crew alive of stone laden ‘MV Sunvalley 4’ literage vessel which capsized with them in the sea due to tidal waves under the influence of Cyclone Yaas.
Two rescue helicopters of the BAF rescued them after identifying them following two hours of searches in the sea.
They were rescued from Akter Banu Doba area at the new channel of the Bay of Bengal near Bhasanchar under Hatiya upazila in Noakhali district at about 1:15pm on Wednesday. Later, they were brought at Zahurul Huq Base of the BAF in Chattogram.
Earlier, the Bangladesh Navy sought cooperation from the Bangladesh Air Force to rescue the sailors and crew receiving information of capsizing the vessel. Accordingly, the BAF personnel launched the rescue mission.
It was learnt that stone laden ‘MV Sunvalley 4’ literage vessel left Chattogram for Dhaka on Tuesday afternoon. But, different portions of the vessels were broken at about 11:00pm being hit by the strong tidal waves. Losing control, the vessel started sinking. In such a situation, the sailors pleaded to the Bangladesh Navy to save their lives. There were no vessels adjacent to the literage vessels due to rough sea. Later, the BAF’s two helicopters were there and rescued 12 sailors and crew one after another.
BAF’s Squadron Leader Saiful Alam said the health check up of the rescued sailors and crew were conducted after they were brought at the Zahurul Huque Air Base in Chattogram by helicopters. Ambulances and doctors were kept standby from earlier. They were floating on the sea for long 14 hours after the capsize of their vessel. They also abandoned all hopes to remain alive.
