27 crew missing after ship sinks off South Africa

Rescue teams were today searching for 27 crewmen missing from the Alexandros T, a bulk carrier that sank last night in the Indian Ocean off South Africa’s southern coast.

Andre Botes, the head of the maritime search and rescue operations, said 28 crewmen, all wearing lifejackets, failed to reach the life rafts when the ship began to break-up in heavy seas. One was later rescued.