Twenty commandos on December 27 dived into the area off Cua Dai beach in an effort to search for the five bodies who remain missing in a boat incident two days ago.

They planned to retrieve the wreckage of the boat that capsized and disintegrated in rough seas on December 25.

Aboard the boat were 35 people, mostly soldiers who were travelling from Cu Lao Cham islets to Cua Dai beach in Hoi An city for a training session. A total of 28 people were rescued, two women were found dead and five remain missing.

If the search fails today, helicopters will be deployed on December 28 to keep up with the rescue work, said Lieutenant General Nguyen Quy Nhon, deputy commander of Military Zone No5.

A special taskforce led by Lieut. Gen. Nhon was established at Cua Dai beach to guide the search.

More soldiers, local militia and hundreds of fishing trawlers have been mobilized to comb through the 100-km long area along Danang coast, where the bodies of the soldiers could be stranded, said Nhon.

Military Zone No5 has put up an additional three tents at Cua Dai beach to help with the rescue work.

VOV