Compensation for migrant fishermen who died in bridge collapse

Taipei, Oct. 2 (CNA) The Taiwan International Ports Corporation Ltd. (TIPC) plans to give compensation of NT$5 million (US$160,857) to the families of each migrant fisherman who died when their boats were crushed under a collapsed bridge in Yilan County, a TIPC official said Wednesday.

The bridge above the entrance to the port of Nanfang'ao suddenly collapsed at around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, crushing three fishing boats.

Lin Chien-ming (林健明), TIPC chief secretary, said that the families of each migrant fisherman who have died are expected to receive NT$5 million in compensation, while the 10 injured -- including nine migrant fishermen and one Taiwanese driver-- will receive between NT$10,000 and NT$36,000.

As of press time, the authorities had found the bodies of five migrant fishermen -- three Indonesians and two Filipinos.

The victims were identified as 29-year-old Indonesian Wartono, 44-year-old Filipino Andree Serencio, 32-year-old Indonesian Ersona, 46-year-old Filipino George Impang and 28-year-old Indonesian Mohamad Domiri, according to the Yilan Emergency Operation Center.

The last missing migrant fisherman is 29-year-old Filipino Romulo Escalicas, according to the center.

Tseng Yen-pu (曾彥博), a representative of Sang Yi International Co., Ltd. manpower agency, the broker for the fishermen, said they were not covered by group accident insurance.

Meanwhile, asked about its response measures following the incident, the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) told CNA that its top priority is to recover the remaining missing Filipino.

According to MECO, some of the victims of Tuesday's tragedy have relatives working in Taiwan, so some of their family members are at the scene in Yilan.

The families will also receive financial and burial assistance from the Philippines government, and MECO will assist in the repatriation of their remains, it added.

Meanwhile, Indonesia's representative to Taiwan, Didi Sumedi, told CNA that his office was still trying to establish contact with the families of those affected by Tuesday's incident to offer them assistance.