2 people die after falling into the sea near Lanyu

Taipei, March 22 (CNA) The bodies of two people who fell into the sea off the coast of Lanyu (Orchid Island) on Friday night were found on Saturday, the coast guard confirmed.

The body of a man surnamed Huang (黃) was found Saturday morning, while the body of a man surnamed Lo (羅) was found in the afternoon, according to the coast guard.

On Friday night, at 8:21 p.m., the Coast Guard Administration Eastern Branch 13th Coast Patrol Corps received a report from a man stating that Lo had fallen into the sea and that Huang had jumped in to rescue him, but was now also missing.

The patrol dispatched personnel with remote-controlled lifebuoys, single-rotor drones and other rescue equipment for the search.

The coast guard said the patrol also alerted units, including the 15th Coast Patrol Corps, the Lanyu fire brigade of the Taitung County Fire Department and the National Air Service Corps, to assist in the search.

However, the search was unsuccessful due to poor lighting in the evening.

The local police said the three men were not local to the area and were fishing on the coast.

The police will handle subsequent matters, the coast guard said.