TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A freighter registered in Palau capsized near the middle of the Taiwan Strait Wednesday, forcing rescue teams from both Taiwan and China to race to save the crew.

The Taiwanese authorities said they received a message at 8:25 a.m. that the cargo ship “London” had capsized 150 nautical miles north-northeast of the islet Pengchia (彭佳嶼), the Central News Agency reported.

The ship was carrying a crew of 15 members, including one Taiwanese national and 14 citizens of Myanmar.

As the disaster occurred just 90 nautical miles from the shore of the Chinese province of Zhejiang, technically speaking it was China’s responsibility to rescue the crew, Ministry of Transportation officials said. However, due to humanitarian considerations, Taiwan did also send a team to help out, they added.

A South Korean vessel picked up two crew members from Myanmar, but a Taiwanese helicopter had to return to base at 9:09 a.m. Wednesday due to poor visibility and to the long distance, CNA reported. Two Taiwanese coast guard frigates were expected to reach the area on Thursday.

According to shipping records, the “London” measured 2,216 tons and had left Kaohsiung for Busan in South Korea on December 26, with a stop at Taichung on December 28-30 for refueling. It was not immediately known what cargo the ship was carrying.

Palau is a Pacific island state which last year faced a tourism boycott from China after it refused to give up official diplomatic relations with Taiwan.