HANOI, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Chanchu, the most powerful typhoon striking the South China Sea this month, has killed 26 Vietnamese fishermen and left 181 others missing, Vietnam's Central Televisions reported Saturday.

    Most of the victims, whose ships were hit by the typhoon as sailing or sheltering near islands of China, are from such centrallocalities as Da Nang City, Quang Nam province and Quang Ngai province.

    Eight local fishing ships sank and eight others still went missing during the typhoon, but 81 Vietnamese fishermen were rescued, said the televisions.

    On Saturday morning, a local ship carrying more than 60 people,25 of them died, started to return to Da Nang.

    The Vietnamese government asked China to offer assistance in searching and helping local victims during the typhoon. A Chinese rescue ship has saved 97 Vietnamese fishermen at China's Dongsha Islands.

    The government has also asked localities and relevant agencies to continue searching people missing and helping victims' familiesovercome difficulties.

    Chanchu, which means "pearl", formed in the Pacific, about 550 km east of Mindanao island in the Philippines on May 9. It hit central Philippines on Saturday, killing at least 32 people and affecting thousands of others. Enditem