The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said on Saturday it would continue to help in the search for seven Taiwanese businessmen missing off the coast of Madagascar since July 11, even after the first round of search operations ended yesterday.
The ministry said in a statement that it would continue to provide whatever help necessary to continue the search, such as translation, legal consultation and other technical assistance.
ASSISTANCE
The help would be given through a 13-member task force of Taiwanese expatriates in Madagascar and former diplomatic officials posted in the country, the ministry said.
The statement was issued after members of two of the men’s families returned home from southern Africa and expressed their dissatisfaction with the ministry’s efforts, amid reports that it had decided to stop funding the search.
A chartered boat carrying eight Taiwanese on a tour of an ocean aquaculture facility off the coast of northeastern Madagascar sank on July 11.
The body of Liu Shou-chih (劉守智) was recovered on July 14, but none of the others have been found.
PERSONNEL
Following the conclusion of the first phase of search operations, the ministry said it would keep in touch with officials in Madagascar and send personnel stationed in South Africa to help the men’s families.
The ministry has spent more than NT$3 million (US$(98,000) to help with the search mission, including arranging for a 10-hour helicopter search, a 22-hour aircraft search and 32-hour search at sea, the statement said.
The ministry said that it had been informed that Madagascar rescue teams have not ended their search for the missing men.
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