KINMEN (TVBS News) — Two Taiwanese fishers were found by the Chinese Coast Guard on Monday (March 18), after they lost contact with their families and drifted out to sea. Respective authorities on both sides are coordinating their repatriation.
The Kinmen County residents, surnamed Hu, 25, and Wu, 40, set out from Xibian Seawater Bathing Pool using a power raft at about 11:30 a.m. before losing contact around 3 p.m. the previous day.
The Coast Guard Administration was notified by their families at around 5:05 a.m. on Monday, who reported the fishers ran out of fuel and drifted to the Port of Weitou, China, by approximately 4:15 a.m. After joint rescue efforts between China and Taiwan, contact was established with the Xiamen maritime search and rescue unit, and the safety of the fishers was confirmed.
Sources say the duo regularly went fishing and operated a boat with simple equipment and no radar location system. Luckily, they were found and rescued.
However, due to strong winds in Kinmen on Monday, fishing boats aren't suitable for transferring the fishermen. As a result, larger vessels from the coast guard may be required for assistance.