NEW : Sixteen people have been rescued as of Tuesday morning , state media report . The rescue operation is ongoing and the number could rise further in coming hours. Seventy-two people are missing after three Chinese fishing boats sank in the South China Sea amid stormy weather caused by a typhoon , state media reported . Typhoon Wutip made landfall on Vietnam 's central coast late Monday .
NEW : Sixteen people have been rescued as of Tuesday morning , state media report . The rescue operation is ongoing and the number could rise further in coming hours. Typhoon Wutip made landfall on Vietnam 's central coast late Monday .