A Chinese state media on Friday said that about 12 Chinese sailors died of suspected food poisoning while nine others are in critical health condition on board their vessel near Vietnam’s southern Con Dao Island.

It was reported that the Chinese-registered Wu Zhou 8 cargo vessel was on its way from Thailand to China when the 21 crew members fell ill.

The AFP quoted an official involved in the rescue effort from Vietnam’s southern Ba Ria Vung Tau province that “We were told of 10 bodies on the vessel. All died because of food poisoning, we were told.”

Meanwhile, the official added that the cause of death was yet to be confirmed but said that “We have sent our rescue ship, which is scheduled to reach the Chinese vessel late Friday night.”

It was gathered that eleven other sailors were brought to a hospital in an aircraft hired by the vessel’s owner. Two died on the way, while nine are being cared for by Vietnamese medics on land.

State media also said that the Chinese vessel is now 63 nautical miles from Con Dao island.

Also, reports said that on Thursday, seven bodies were found floating off Vietnam’s southern Phu Quoc island and they were believed to be from a boat that sank off Cambodia’s coast last week with 41 Chinese people on board.