TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A Toucheng-registered fishing boat, Lian Qingfu No.12, caught fire early Wednesday morning (Sept. 11), as it was approximately 1.9 km from the Lanyang River Estuary.

Coast Guard ships rushed to the scene. All crew aboard the fishing boat were rescued by other nearby boats and were eventually transferred to a Coast Guard patrol boat.

According to the Coast Guard, the Lian Qingfu No.12 was a 20-ton fishing boat. It had set out from Toucheng’s Wushi Harbor at 4 a.m. to catch fish fry known as whitebait. At about 6:30 a.m., the vessel caught fire, per UDN.

The boat lacked sufficient equipment to extinguish the fire. The crew of two Taiwanese and two Filipino fishers notified the Coast Guard for rescue.

The Coast Guard dispatched the PP-10055 patrol boat from the Coast Guard Suao Branch and sent an additional CP-1057 boat for support. The PP-10055 patrol boat began spraying the fishing boat with water and the fire was partially under control at 9:30 a.m.

At 10:30 a.m., a nearby boat was used to help the damaged fishing boat return to Wushi Harbor. Upon arrival at the harbor, firefighters took over the job of extinguishing the remaining flames.

Suao Coast Guard Branch Director Huang Yi-min (黃逸民) said visual surveillance found no oil pollution in the sea. The Fisheries Agency also issued a navigation warning to nearby vessels to be aware of debris from the fishing boat.

The Coast Guard reminded the public if they encounter any danger at sea, they should immediately call the 118 Coast Guard reporting hotline.