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Air Force helicopters save crew members of sunken seacraft

Taiwan Air Force helicopters yesterday plucked two crew members from the sea after a boat sank in Philippine waters. Eight others were rescued by passing vessels and fishing boats, but 10 seamen remain missing.

The Cabinet's National Rescue Command Center (NRCC) said the Panamanian-registered Ho-Feng No. 7 (禾豐7號) foundered yesterday at 4:26am and began to sink.

The NRCC said the ship issued a rescue assistance request to the Hong Kong-based International Rescue Center, and the center requested that Taiwanese crews help with the rescue operations.

All 20 crew jumped into the sea wearing life jackets following the incident, the NRCC added.

The center said it conducted the rescue operation in Philippine waters after Philippine authorities agreed.

The NRCC said three Air Force helicopters took off from a base in Chiayi at around 5:30am. Air force officers spotted several crew members floating in the sea as they reached the site. It said two men were rescued with the help of its helicopters.

The center said the weather in the area was very bad. The two were taken to Taiwanese hospitals for treatment, where they were said to be in good condition, the center said.

Bad weather early yesterday morning was the likely cause of the accident, it added.

The NRCC said the ship's owner is Taiwanese.

This was the third accident this month in waters around Taiwan.
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