Thirteen people are reported missing after a cargo ship sank off Taiwan on Monday and are feared dead.
The ship, identified as Zhen he 168, went down off Tiawan’s Xiquan Island around 5 a.m. Monday, Xinhua news agency informs.
The sinking was reported by the owner of the boat 12 hours later, according to local maritime authorities.
Search and rescue operation has been launched comprising of two patrol ships and a helicopter and is now in its second day, but there have been no signs of the crew.
The wreckage has been found on Monday, Xhinhua reports.
The cause of the incident is being investigated.
According to reports, "Zhen he 168" ship 137 meters long, the total tonnage of 6426 tons, was handling the ownership and nationality deregistration October 13, 2014, then no new ship registration information. After much hand-sale, the actual owner of Ningbo Xiangshan Yuan Mou et al.
According to the marine weather forecast, the incident was that the waters southerly winds 5-6 gust 7, light to medium waves, wave height of 1.0-2.0 meters, the water temperature 13.0-19.0 degrees.
Currently, the search and rescue work is still ongoing. Maritime sector has been set up on the cause of the accident investigation team to investigate.