Matsu Islands: An Indonesian seaman has died but seven others have been rescued after the ship they were working on, a Belize-registered oil tanker, ran aground in waters near the Matsu Islands on Friday evening. The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) reported that the oil tanker, the "Wei Sen No.8," was first spotted stranded near Beigan Island at around 9 p.m. on Friday by the Matsu patrol command.
According to Focus Taiwan, the command dispatched a patrol boat and confirmed that the oil tanker had likely run aground, as stated in a news release by the CGA's Kinmen-Matsu-Penghu Branch on Saturday. The statement highlighted that the vessel sustained hull damage and water ingress, creating an emergency situation with eight Indonesian crew members awaiting rescue.
The branch reported that four additional patrol boats were later dispatched to the scene along with a rescue helicopter. At around 3 a.m. Saturday, seven crew members were successfully rescued from the tanker. Tragically, a crew member fell into the sea during the rescue operation, and despite being retrieved by a patrol boat and rushed to Lienchiang County Hospital, he was pronounced dead.
The branch emphasized that it will continue monitoring the condition of the oil tanker to check for potential oil spills. Additionally, it will collaborate with the Lienchiang District Prosecutors Office and other agencies to manage the vessel's removal and address any pollution caused by the ship.