Dramatic photos show the rescue of a shipwreck crew member near Hong Kong

An industrial support vessel operating in the South China Sea sank in a storm with the possible loss of more than two dozen crew members, the Hong Kong rescue services said on Saturday.

Authorities dispatched planes and helicopters to assist in the rescue, with at least three of the 30-person crew brought to safety by 5:30 p.m. local time on Saturday.

Photos released by the Hong Kong Government Flying Service showed a crew member being winched up to a rescue helicopter as large waves hit the sinking ship, which had broken into two parts.

The accident happened about 300 kilometers south of Hong Kong.

The Flying Service did not give the ship’s name or origin. He said in a statement that crew members were negotiating difficulties caused by Tropical Storm Chaba, which was blowing maximum winds of 110 km/h.

The storm hit the western part of China’s coastal province of Guangdong on Saturday.

The Hong Kong service sent two fixed-wing planes and four helicopters for the rescue effort.