Chinese FM extends condolences over death of 30 Iranian sailors

Panama-registered oil tanker Sanchi is rocked by another partial explosion on Sunday, January 14, 2018. [File photo: Ministry of Transport]

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday extended to his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif condolences over the death of all the 30 Iranian sailors aboard an oil tanker that earlier collided with another vessel and sank off China's east coast.

In a message to Zarif, Wang expressed deep condolences over the death of the Iranian sailors aboard the tanker Sanchi as well as his sympathy toward their families.

Wang said China had done its utmost in the search and rescue operations carried out in close cooperation with Iran, and that it will maintain coordinations with Iran in follow-up work.

The death of the Iranian sailors was announced days after the Panama-registered tanker and the Hong Kong-registered bulk freighter CF Crystal collided in waters about 300 km east of the Yangtze River estuary on Jan. 6.

The tanker, carrying 136,000 tons of gas condensates and other oils, caught fire after the collision. It sank on Sunday after burning for eight days.

Three bodies have been recovered of the missing 32 crew members aboard Sanchi, which included two Bangladeshis.