The Indian Coast Guard has launched a major search and rescue operation after the Panama-flagged cargo vessel MV Ocean Winner sank in the Bay of Bengal, off the eastern coast of India. The vessel reportedly sent a distress alert while sailing southeast of Paradip port on Saturday, before communication with the ship was lost. According to the Coast Guard, the ship had 24 crew members on board, including 20 Chinese nationals, three Myanmar nationals and one Bangladeshi national.

Two crew members have so far been rescued from life rafts, while the remaining 22 crew members are still unaccounted for. The Indian Coast Guard has deployed three ships to conduct surface searches in the area. Rescue teams are also working to locate any additional survivors amid challenging conditions at sea. India’s Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that all agencies are coordinating closely in the search and rescue operation and confirmed that the two survivors are receiving medical treatment.

The cause of the vessel’s sinking has not yet been established. Minister Sonowal said the cargo ship had been carrying iron ore from Paradip to China when the incident occurred. The identities and ranks of the two rescued crew members are currently being verified. Authorities continue to search for the missing sailors, while further details about the incident and the condition of the remaining crew are awaited.