Illustration (Antara/Seno)

One Indonesian fisherman died and three others are still missing after an accident in waters off Taoyuan, Taiwan.

The four were crew members of a Keelung-based fishing boat, registered as the Shih Hui No. 31, which collided with a cargo ship and capsized off Taoyuan on Friday morning.

In addition to the Indonesians, the boat was carrying one Taiwanese captain, Chi Wan-der, and four Chinese fishermen. All have yet to be recovered, according to a report by The China Post.

'€œOne boat crew member from Indonesia is confirmed dead,'€ said a coast guard official on Saturday as quoted by Antara news agency.

The dead man'€™s body was found in the sea around 8 kilometers from the incident'€™s location. His identity was confirmed following an identity check at Tamsui port.

According to The China Post, the accident occurred at around 1.50 a.m. Friday when the 48-ton Shih Hui No. 31 collided with the 8,100-ton cargo ship, Asia Cement No. 2, six nautical miles northwest of Taoyuan's Chuwei fishing port.

The rescue work was hampered by tangled fishing nets that made it impossible for divers to search two-thirds of the capsized vessel, including the ship's bridge and the main hold.

Rescuers also found it difficult to get the vessel upright or move it because the fishing nets were snagged on coral reefs 70 meters below.

A marine engineering company sent out a boat with a team of experts to remove the nets, with the workers succeeding early Friday evening, but no survivors or bodies were located.

The Taiwanese Coast Guard Administration (CGA) said six of its vessels and six fishing boats operating nearby had mounted a search and rescue effort soon after the accident was reported. The Taiwanese Navy's Underwater Operations Unit also joined the effort.

Authorities were still investigating the cause of the collision as of Friday night. (kes)(++++)

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