VietNamNet Bridge – Authorities in the central province of Phu Yen have been searching for six fishermen who were considered as missing since their boat was capsized by a giant wave at dawn on Wednesday, March 30.


They were fishing for tuna with four other men when the vessel was hit by the wave a nautical mile away from Hon Doi Island.

The four others swam to safety and are in good health.


Tragically for the missing people, the accident occurred when they were returning home after 22 days at sea.


The border guard has sought the assistance of more than 20 fishing boats anchored in the area to help search for the men.

The six missing men are Tran Min, 39, the captain, Nguyen Van Thanh, Vo Minh Hieu, and three others whose identities are yet to be established .


* Japanese firms donate funds to City hospitals


The Japan Business Association in HCM City (JBAH) made a donation of VND800 million (US$38,000) to hospitals in the city on March 30.


The donation, collected at the 15th Charity Bazaar held by JBAH on Feb 27, was handed over to the HCM City Sponsoring Association for Poor Patients.


During the ceremony, the Chairman of HCM City Sponsoring Association for Poor patients, Tran Thanh long, handed over to the Consul General of Japan in HCM City, a donation of VND200million collected by the association for the earthquake victims in Japan.


* SMS campaign aims to help quake victims


An SMS campaign calling for donations to help Japan overcome the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami has been launched by the Ministry of Information and Communications in co-operation with the Viet Nam Red Cross Society and Viet Nam Multimedia Corporation.


The 18-day campaign will finish at 12pm on April 15.


Mobile users can text UH to 1403 and 1408 to make a donation of VND6,000 (US$0.27) and VND16,000 ($0.72) respectively.

The Red Cross had received total donations of VND21 billion ($950,000) as of March 26.


Another donation of VND121.8 million ($5,500) was given to the Japanese Ambassador to Viet Nam by the directors of Pacific Group last week to support Japan's earthquake and tsunami victims.


VietNamNet/Viet Nam News