Police looking into illegal fishing after angler electrocuted

Taichung, June 17 (CNA) Taichung police are investigating whether illegal fishing practices were involved in the death of a Vietnamese man surnamed Trần who was apparently electrocuted Monday while fishing near the Xinguang Bridge in the city's Houli District.

The Taichung Fire Bureau received a report of an incident near the bridge at 4:51 p.m., with responders finding a foreign male migrant worker at the scene with no signs of life, and he was later confirmed dead at the hospital.

According to a statement from the Dajia Precinct, the man's identity was initially unknown.

A 49-year-old man surnamed Hsu (徐), who reported the incident, told authorities that he had received a call from a Vietnamese man asking for help and immediately rushed to the scene.

Police later contacted a 34-year-old Vietnamese man surnamed Hồ, who said the deceased was his fellow countryman surnamed Trần.

According to Hồ, they both agreed a week earlier to go fishing on the river with electric fishing gear. It was raining, however, at the time when the incident happened, he said, suspecting their electric gear may have malfunctioned and caused an electric shock.

After forensic examinations, police confirmed the victim's identity as a 37-year-old Vietnamese man surnamed Trần.

An investigation is ongoing to determine the exact location of the incident, the equipment used, and whether any illegal activity was involved, police said.

Firefighters who arrived at the scene initially suspected that the Vietnamese national was struck by lightning, but police later came to believe that he was electrocuted when his fishing gear short-circuited.

In Taiwan, electrofishing is illegal under the Fisheries Act. Violators are subject to up to five years in prison, and/or a fine of up to NT$150,000 (US$5,087).