Taiwan rescues Chinese fishermen

The drama was shown live on Taiwanese TV

By Francis Markus BBC Shanghai correspondent

Taiwanese helicopters and boats have rescued more than 130 fishermen whose boat burst into flames off the southern Taiwan port of Kaohsiung.

Rescuers had to battle against heavy seas to pull the mostly mainland Chinese off the stricken boat.

Taiwan television news showed dramatic pictures of the vessel, with flames shooting into the air.

We've brought 132 fishermen ashore, and it's believed that one more is missing

Coast guard spokesman

Rescue helicopters pulled dozens of stranded fishermen from the deck.

It was a slow operation; lowering lines to the crew members to clamber up two at a time.

But a rescue team spokesman told the BBC that all the men on board had now been rescued, even though fire was still burning aboard the ship.

One man who had jumped overboard before the rescue operation began was still missing.

He said about half were airlifted to safety and the remainder jumped and swam for inflatable dinghies.

Tough conditions

With Taiwan buffeted by a typhoon and storms, just getting to the ship was a tough battle.

It was a Taiwanese ship which serves as a dormitory for mainland fishermen working in Taiwan's fishing industry.

It is yet another example of the ties between the two economies, even though Taiwan and the mainland have been governed separately since 1949.

Under the island's security regulations mainland fishermen are not normally allowed to come ashore, but they can enter Taiwan harbours in case of emergency.

The cause of the blaze is not yet known, but one rescued fisherman told Taiwanese television that it was caused by an electrical short circuit, with the flames quickly fanned by high winds.