19 rescued by Coast Guard after yacht breaks down near Liuqiu Island

Taipei, Aug. 24 (CNA) Nineteen people were rescued Saturday after the yacht they were on suffered mechanical failure near Liuqiu Island, Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA) said Sunday.

The vessel, with two crew members and 17 passengers on board, lost power about one nautical mile north of the small island at around 4 p.m., according to a CGA press release.

The Coast Guard said it dispatched two boats, the PP-10032 patrol boat and the CP-1080 multifunction boat, to the yacht, which was floating about a dozen kilometers southwest off the coast of Taiwan proper.

By 5 p.m., the rescuers had reached the yacht, which had partially regained power, the agency said.

But with strong winds in the area, CGA personnel moved

the 17 passengers onto the rescue vessel for safety and took them to a CGA facility in Pingtung County's Donggang Township, according to the CGA.

The yacht, operating on only one engine, was then escorted back to port for repairs.

The agency said the mission was completed successfully with all passengers and crew returned to shore safely.