One of the fishing boats crushed by a bridge that collapsed in the Nanfangao fish harbor in Suao township in Yilan County, Taiwan, on Tuesday, killing six fishermen. (AFP)
The third Filipino casualty in the collapse of the Nanfang’ao Bridge in Yilan County, Taiwan was found Thursday.
The remains of Romulo Escalicas, 29, was retrieved by search and rescue teams.
The two other Filipino fishermen who died were Andree Serencio, 44, and George Impang, 46. Five—other reports say six—other Filipinos were injured.
Along with three Indonesians who also died, they were trapped when the bridge above the entry to the port of Nanfang’ao ruptured and collapsed Tuesday morning, crushing their boats.
The Indonesians were identified as 29-year-old Wartono, 32-year-old Ersona and 28-year-old Mohamad Domiri, according to the Yilan Emergency Operation Center.
Chiang (left) and his wife mourn the death of their fishing boats’ crew members that include three Filipinos. (CNA)
The Taiwanese owner of the three crushed fishing boats described his crew members “like my family.”
Chiang, owner of the Hsin Tai Sheng No. 366, Hsin Tai Sheng No. 266, and Hsin Tai Sheng No. 33 boats, anxiously waited at the pier for news on the fate of his men. He urged Transport Minister Lin Chia-lung to expedite the rescue efforts.
“The fishermen are like my family members. It doesn’t matter if the ships have to be destroyed! I just want the people!” Chiang said.
Chiang said some of the fishermen have been working for him as long as 12 years, with the newest member having worked six years. He expressed frustration about what he perceived as inaction by rescue workers.
“They only have meetings and do not take action. Why are my boats just sitting there? My people are still trapped below,” Chiang said the day before the remaining bodies were found Thursday.
Lin said he appreciates Chiang’s sense of urgency but rescue efforts in the water involve safety precautions and that sudden towing of the boats was risky.
The 140-meter single-arch bridge crashed in Nanfangao on Taiwan’s east coast. Video footage showed a vertical cable at the center of the bridge’s steel arch snapped. (Taiwan News)
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