The typhoon swept across several Asian countries last week, causing death and destruction. But off the coastal town of Hoi An, the storm also led to the salvage of a historically significant ship.
The hull has survived hundreds of years in rough seas and is almost completely intact. Preliminary evidence suggests it was built between the 14th and 16th centuries, when the World Heritage-listed city was the center of a thriving regional trade in silk, ceramics and spices.
The at least 17.4-meter-long ship was discovered in 2023, but has not been salvaged so far.
Now more of the ship has been exposed, but according to experts, its condition could seriously deteriorate if no action is taken given the coastal erosion and the ship's exposure to harsh weather conditions.
