This handout photo taken and released by the HKSAR Government Flying Service on July 2, 2022 shows a ship after it broke into two amid Typhoon Chaba, during a rescue operation of the crew members in the South China Sea about 300 kilometers (186 miles) southwest of Hong Kong. (HANDOUT / GOVERNMENT FLYING SERVICE / AFP)

HONG KONG - The chance of finding 27 crew members alive from a vessel that snapped in two as tropical storm Chaba passed through the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the southern Chinese mainland  is "very slim", HKSAR government rescue authorities said on Sunday, as the search for those missing continued.

On Saturday, authorities rescued three of 30 crew members as strong winds and rain battered the coast and waters about 300 km southwest of the city, the HKSAR’s Government Flying Service said.

The site of the incident was surrounded by about 100 wind turbines that, compounded with gusts reaching up to 140 km per hour, had hampered rescue efforts

ALSO READ: 3 rescued, around 2 dozen missing after ship snaps in two

The site of the incident was surrounded by about 100 wind turbines that, compounded with gusts reaching up to 140 km per hour, had hampered rescue efforts.

The search area had been widened but the chance of finding survivors was "very slim", West Wu, controller of the HKSAR’s Government Flying Service, said on Sunday.

The HKSAR government sent nine aircraft to jointly conduct search and rescue operations with forces from the mainland.

Some of the crew had likely abandoned the vessel as it snapped in two, the surviving crew members told authorities.

READ MORE: HKO lowers storm warning to typhoon signal No. 1

Chaba skirted the global financial hub, bringing heavy rain and winds on Friday and Saturday, restricting public transport and forcing many businesses to close.

In this image released by HKSAR's Government Flying Service, helicopter crew members winch up a man from a sinking ship in the South China Sea, 300 kilometers (186 miles) southwest of Hong Kong, July 2, 2022, as Typhoon Chaba was moving in the area. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT FLYING SERVICE  AP)

In this image released by the HKSAR's Government Flying Service, a helicopter with rescue crew members approaches a sinking ship in the South China Sea, 300 kilometers (186 miles) southwest of Hong Kong, July 2, 2022, as Typhoon Chaba was moving in the area. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT FLYING SERVICES VIA AP)