Taiwanese rescuers search for 26 missing sailors from sunk ship

Taiwanese rescuers search for 26 missing sailors from sunk ship

Taiwanese ships and helicopters search for 26 missing sailors from a Panama-registered ship that sank off the northeastern coast.

The 16,000-ton "Mezzanine," loaded with iron ore, capsized in rough seas Tuesday, said Hsieh Ching-chin, a Coast Guard Administration official.

An Indonesian sailor, Herry Marthen-J, was rescued by the Taiwanese coast guard Wednesday after floating at sea for about 20 hours, he said.

"There were no traces of other missing sailors, but we will continue the rescue effort, with navy vessels searching in the high seas and patrol boats near shore," he said.

The 28-year-old vessel departed an Indonesian port last Saturday for the Chinese port of Tianjin , he said.