Freighter sinks off Taiwan, killing eight
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)
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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