AN offshore construction platform tilted in the sea area of the city of Huizhou, Guangdong Province, yesterday noon, causing four people falling into the sea and missing, according to the Guangdong Maritime Search and Rescue Center.

There was a total of 67 people on the platform called “Shengping 001” at the time of the incident. As of 3:30 p.m. yesterday, 63 people had been rescued and transported to safer places and four remained out of contact.

Search and rescue operations, which involved helicopters and other vessels, were still under way as of 5 p.m. yesterday.

The Guangdong Maritime Search and Rescue Center received a report at 11:26 a.m. yesterday that the platform, located in the sea area outside the port of Huidong County, had a slant.

The center promptly initiated an emergency response and coordinated rescue efforts for the distressed victims. Ships were dispatched to the scene to participate in the rescue.

Meanwhile, the center issued navigation warnings and coordinated passing ships to join the rescue operations.

The Nanhai Rescue Bureau of the Ministry of Transport also coordinated to make some helicopters available for the rescue, while the South China Sea Marine Prediction Center of the State Oceanic Administration made drift predictions about the missing persons.

The platform had been stabilized as of 3 p.m. yesterday. Nearly 30 ships and rescue helicopters joined the search and rescue operations.

Zeng Zhi, president of Shenzhen Water Search and Rescue Volunteer Association, told DT News that the association received a call for help at 11:10 a.m. yesterday, after which it sent three ships and 16 team members to the rescue.

The team arrived at the rescue site at about 12:55 p.m. and swiftly carried out emergency rescue operations.

(Zhang Yu)