7 rescued, 1 missing after Taiwan fishing boat catches fire near Diaoyutai

Taipei, April 30 (CNA) A Keelung-registered fishing vessel, "Fu Yang No. 266," caught fire early Wednesday morning in waters near the disputed Diaoyutai Islets, with seven crew members rescued by nearby boats and another one, an Indonesian national, still missing, according to the Coast Guard Administration (CGA).

The CGA's Fleet Branch said it received a report at around 1 a.m. that the vessel had caught fire approximately 157 nautical miles northeast of the Diaoyutai Islets, which Taiwanese authorities claim as an "inherent" part of the Republic of China (Taiwan's official name), but is administered by Japan.

The branch said in a news release that seven of the eight crew members on board were rescued by two nearby fishing vessels, while one Indonesian crew member remained missing. Only one crew member is Taiwanese; the rest are foreign migrant workers, according to the CGA.

Upon receiving a request for assistance, the CGA dispatched its offshore patrol vessel "Bali," which was patrolling the Taiwan-Japan waters at the time, to conduct a search and rescue operation, according to the branch.

"As the reported location of the fire falls within Japan's search and rescue responsibility zone, the CGA notified Taiwan's National Rescue Command Center, which coordinated with the Japanese side for assistance," the branch said.

The "Bali" arrived at the search area at around 11 a.m. and deployed officers in a small boat to board one of the two fishing vessels involved in the rescue, according to the branch.

After conducting an initial assessment, CGA personnel found that two rescued Indonesian crew members had suffered burns and developed blisters, but were not in immediate danger, the branch said, noting that all seven rescued crew members were later transferred to the Bali for temporary shelter.

The "Bali" is continuing joint search operations for the missing Indonesian crew member with the Japanese side, the branch said.

Once another CGA patrol vessel, the "Taoyuan," arrives at the scene to assist with the search, the "Bali" will transport the rescued crew members back to Taiwan, the branch noted.

The blaze is believed to have originated in the vessel's engine room, according to the CGA news release.