After the engineering ship snapped to two and sank off the coast of Hong Kong Dozens of people are missing.
A disaster occurred during a violent strong wind caused by a tropical cyclone Chaba that passed through the area on Saturday.
Authorities have mobilized planes and helicopters for immediate rescue operations, but so far only three of the 30 crew members have been recovered.
The three rescued men said they could have been washed away from the damaged ship when the crew leaned into the water. They could only cling to the railing while waiting for help, theSouth China Morning Post reported.
Rescue teams said some of the crew had abandoned the ship and hampered efforts to attract them safely.
The storm is said to have reached a maximum wind of 68 mph.
The dent occurred 186 miles from the south coast of Hong Kong. The storm landed in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province, China on Saturday afternoon.
With post wire