Report: 1 Pinoy killed, 1 missing in Taiwanese vessel blast

At least one Filipino was reported killed while another was missing after a Taiwanese fishing vessel exploded in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean on Friday, a Taiwanese news agency reported on Saturday. Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA) reported there were eight Filipino crewmembers aboard the Lai Ching when an explosion occurred at 11:40 a.m. Friday. "Of the eight Filipino crewmen, one was killed, one [was] missing, five were injured, and one [was] safe," the CNA report said, citing initial information from Taiwan's Fisheries Agency under the Council of Agriculture. Apart from Filipinos, the vessel also included Taiwanese, Indonesian, Vietnamese, and Chinese crewmen. At the fisheries agency's request, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has asked countries in the southwestern Atlantic region to help in the search and rescue mission. The Kaoshiung-based Lai Ching was operating in waters some 1,600 nautical miles east of Uruguay when the blast occurred. The closest ship, the Hsiang Man Ching, picked up all the crew who had managed to use a lifeboat to evacuate their burning ship. According to the CNA, the Hsiang Man Ching is sailing toward Cape Town and is scheduled to arrive at the South African port on May 6. Also, Taiwanese officials voiced hopes that nearby countries could send ships or aircraft equipped with medical staff to help care for injured crew members. "Moreover, we have asked our national search and rescue center to arrange for medical professionals to offer long-distance first-aid guidance for the care of the injured," the agency said. Other crewmembers The CNA report said only two Taiwanese were on board the ship when it exploded. It said one of them, chief engineer Chang Ching-chiao, was killed in the blast, while the other was safely rescued. Of some 12 Indonesian crewmen, seven were injured, one is missing, and four others were unscathed. There were also 12 Vietnamese aboard the ship, one of whom was killed, two were missing, six were injured, and three were unharmed. All of the three Chinese on board were not hurt and were rescued. — JE, GMA News