Taiwanese Fishing Boat Catches Fire Off Ishigaki, Japan Dispatches Rescue as Captain Remains Missing

(CNA Reporter Tai Ya-chen, Tokyo 16th) Japan's 11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters stated that at around 6:20 am today, the Taiwanese fishing boat "Quanyu No. 6" caught fire in waters approximately 265 kilometers north of Ishigaki Island, Okinawa Prefecture. Six of the seven crew members on board were rescued, but the captain remains missing.

According to reports by Kyodo News and Okinawa Times, after receiving a request from Taiwan's Rescue Coordination Centre, Japan's 11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters dispatched two patrol vessels and two aircraft to continue search and rescue operations.

According to notifications from the Taiwanese side, there were a total of seven crew members on board. Six of them have been rescued by another nearby Taiwanese fishing boat.

Currently, search and rescue operations are still ongoing. (Editor: Tien Jui-hua) 1150416