A rescue helicopter airlifted five people from a tugboat off Hualien yesterday, after a crew member was injured while trying to assist a drifting bulk carrier with five Filipino and 12 Taiwanese crew members.
The injured person, surnamed Yu (游), sustained a head laceration when the tugboat became entangled in a cable amid poor wind conditions and lost propulsion, said deputy coast guard patrol team captain Wu Cheng-ta (吳正達), who took part in the rescue operation.
Photo: CNA
The patrol team requested a helicopter from the National Airborne Service Corps after learning of the accident, which occurred at about 1pm, and mobilized about 40 personnel on the ground to assist with the operation, Wu said.
An airlift was deemed necessary after rough sea conditions buffeted the tugboat, preventing the use of small boats to evacuate the crew, rescuers said.
The helicopter arrived at about 3pm and airlifted all five crew members, including the semi-conscious Yu, 48, who was transported to a hospital for treatment immediately after the aircraft landed in Hualien, rescuers said.
Local authorities said the Port of Hualien dispatched the tugboat to assist the bulk carrier that was waiting to dock and unload cargo at 9:30am when it suffered an engine failure, leaving it adrift and swept away by strong monsoon winds.
All 17 crew members on board the Panama-registered cargo ship owned by Taiwan's China Steel Corp remain safe with no injuries reported, and the vessel is in stable condition, the coast guard patrol team said.
A large salvage tug was scheduled to arrive at the scene to assist the cargo ship at 8:30pm, local authorities said.
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