TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A Marshall Islands-registered cargo ship caught fire off the coast of Pingtung on Saturday evening (Jan. 4), leaving its 21-member crew stranded.

The Coast Guard received a distress call from the cargo ship Panoria at 5 p.m., located 23 miles southwest of Eluanbi. A fire in the engine room caused the vessel to lose power, according to CNA.

In response, the Coast Guard deployed an Anping-class patrol vessel along with PP-10096, PP-3567, and PP-3599 patrol vessels. The Ministry of National Defense and the National Airborne Service Corps coordinated rescue efforts, including an emergency airlift.

The Coast Guard reported that the Anping-class patrol vessel arrived at the scene at 6 p.m. and established radio contact with the cargo ship. It learned that the fire had left one crew member badly burned and scalded, while three others sustained serious injuries requiring immediate medical attention.

Due to 3-4 meter-high waves and the significant size difference between the two vessels, the four injured crew members were airlifted by helicopter at 7 p.m. They were transported to Kaohsiung Airport and later transferred to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Coast Guard patrol vessels remain on-site to monitor the situation, and the Maritime and Port Bureau's Southern Branch has been contacted to dispatch a tugboat for rescue operations.