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Freighter sinks off Taiwan, killing eight

Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:09pm EST
TAIPEI, Jan 15 (Reuters) - A Panama-registered freighter sank off the west coast of Taiwan after being struck by a wave, killing eight crew and leaving four missing, the coastguard said on Tuesday.

The ship, which set out from Hong Kong with a crew from China and loaded with gravel, sank about 20 nautical miles off Taiwan early on Monday, said Taiwan coastguard spokesman Hsieh Ching-ching. Winds west of Taiwan are normally strong in January.

"When the wave hit, water rushed into the ship and it immediately sank," Hsieh said.

A coastguard search team of five vessels and six helicopters had found 13 survivors.

A Panama-registered freighter sank off the Taiwan coast in November, killing all but one of the 28 crew. (Editing by Nick Macfie)


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