5 Dead, 4 Missing After Cement Carrier and Fishing Boat Collide off Taiwan

zoom Five fishermen died and four have been missing since last Friday morning when their fishing boat collided with a cement carrier off the coast of Taoyuan City, Taiwans Maritime and Port Bureau reports. The Asia Cement No 2 was on a routine voyage from Hualian to Taichung when it collided with Shih Hui 31 in north Taiwan strait at 01:48 am local time, September 18, according to U-Ming Marine the carriers operator. Nine crewmen on board the fishing vessel went overboard after the collision, U-Ming says. There are no damages to Asia Cement No.2 and its crew was unharmed. U-Ming has reportedly sent out a diver team with a tug boat to join Taipei coastguard and port authority in the ongoing search and rescue operation. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.