Chinese Fishing Boat Capsizes in Waters of Kinmen, Six Crew Members Missing
On the morning of March 14th, the Chinese fishing boat “Minlongyu 61222” capsized and sank in the waters of Kinmen, leading to six Zhangzhou fishermen falling into the sea. A joint search and rescue operation is currently underway, with China managing to rescue 4 of the crew members. Sadly, two of the rescued individuals were found without signs of life, resulting in one fatality and two crew members still missing.
According to a report from the Taiwan Strait Patrol, the incident occurred 15 miles southwest of Kinmen, prompting the Taiwan National Search and Rescue Command Center to launch efforts to locate the missing fishermen. Both sides of the Taiwan Strait have mobilized resources for the search operation, with China deploying helicopters and rescue ships, while Taiwan dispatched ships from the Coast Patrol Team to aid in the rescue mission.
The Kinmen Defense Command of the Taiwan Army confirmed the capsizing of the fishing boat, stating that the crew members had fallen into the sea. Despite rumors circulating on social media about soldiers refusing Communist troops to land and search, the Ministry of Defense clarified that the priority is to save lives and ensure the safety of the rescued crew members.
The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council provided an update in the afternoon, revealing that the Fujian Provincial Maritime Search and Rescue Center is leading the ongoing rescue operation and coordinating with the Taiwan Chinese Search and Rescue Association for assistance.
As the search efforts continue, both sides remain focused on locating the missing crew members and ensuring their safety.