MANILA, Philippines — At least two Filipino seafarers have died following the capsizing of the Singapore-flagged bulk carrier MV Devon Bay in the South China Sea, the Chinese embassy in Manila confirmed on Friday, January 23.

The vessel, which was carrying ore cargos , reportedly capsized about 55 nautical miles off Scarborough Shoal, a China-controlled maritime feature also claimed by the Philippines.

According to Chinese authorities, 17 of the 21 all-Filipino crew members were rescued by responding vessels from the Chinese Coast Guard after a distress report was received at around 1:30 a.m. One of the rescued seafarers remains under emergency medical treatment, while 14 others are in stable condition.

The Chinese military later confirmed that two rescued crew members died following the operation. Four Filipino crew members remain missing, prompting intensified search and rescue efforts by both China and the Philippines.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it could not independently verify the reported deaths but confirmed that it had deployed two vessels and two aircraft to assist in the rescue operations. The PCG added that the ship’s operator, K-Line Roro Bulk Ship Management Company Ltd., confirmed that 17 individuals were rescued by the Chinese Coast Guard.

“The PCG Command Center acquired information from the Hong Kong Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre that 10 of the 21 Filipino crew members were rescued by a passing China Coast Guard vessel,” the PCG said in a statement.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) later confirmed that the bulk carrier Devon Bay had sunk while en route to Yangjiang, China, noting that, as the vessel’s flag state, it is coordinating closely with the ship owner and search and rescue authorities. The MPA also said it would conduct a formal investigation into the incident.

The incident occurred near Scarborough Shoal, one of the most contested maritime features in Asia and a frequent flashpoint in regional territorial disputes.

Earlier this week, tensions in the area escalated after the Chinese military reported that it had organized naval and air force units to drive away a Philippine government aircraft it accused of illegally intruding into airspace over the shoal.

Search and rescue operations for the missing Filipino seafarers remain ongoing.