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China to expand search area for missing MH370

Xinhua, March 19, 2014

• China will expand its search efforts for missing Malaysia flight MH370 to waters southeast of the Bay of Bengal and west of Indonesia, covering an area of 300,000 square kilometers.

  The Chinese rescue vessel "Nanhaijiu 101" approaches Qiandaohu comprehensive supply ship (Rear), as both of them head toward Singapore to join in the search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, March 18, 2014. At 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, China's Ministry of Transportation ordered all Chinese vessels in the Gulf of Thailand to leave for searches in the waters southeast of the Bay of Bengal and near the Sunda Strait. [Xinhua]

  Nine vessels, including China's largest rescue ship Haixun 01, will set out for the mission from Singapore at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, said the national maritime search and rescue center.

  The newly-added search areas were decided based on the two possible flight directions made by the jet released by the Malaysian government.

  Efforts will focus on waters near Sumatra away from regions being searched by other countries, said Zhuo Li, vice director of the center.

  According to the plan, four vessels heading north will pass through Strait of Malacca to reach the Bay of Bengal, while five others will travel south passing the Sunda Strait.

  The search for flight MH370 registered its 11th day on Tuesday after the plane went missing on its way to Beijing on March 8, carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew, including 154 Chinese.

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