VietNamNet Bridge - Instant noodle packs, clothes, fishing tools... were tattered and burned after the fishing boat of Mr. Phai, a fisherman from Quang Ngai province, was shot by Chinese ships. The fishermen said they were still lucky because gas tanks did not explode and they survived.

VN protests China boat shooting 

While catching fish in the waters of Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands on March 20, the boat of Mr. Bui Van Phai from An Hai commune, Ly Son island district, in the central province of Quang Ngai was chased and shot by several Chinese vessels. The ship’s ceiling was burned.

About 30 minutes later, when the Chinese ships left, Phai’s ship had to return home because his food, clothing, blankets, mats and fishing nets were burnt. The total loss is estimated at VND300 million ($15,000).

However, it is lucky that the four gas tanks on board did not explode. "If they exploded, all of us would have surely died," one of the fishermen on the ship said.

Soft drink cans ...

... burnt packs of instant noodle and clothes of fishermen on the boat.

During 22 years of catching fish in the waters of Hoang Sa, according to the captain of the fishing boat QNg96382 - Pham Quang Thanh – this is the most terrible incident.

Officers and soldiers of the An Hai Border Control Station and Border Station 328 checked the ship at the Ly Son Port.