US Coast Guard rescues 10 from burning fishing boat

Authorities say 10 members of a Taiwanese fishing ship have been rescued in the Pacific after being forced to abandon the burning vessel.

A US Coast Guard spokesman said on Sunday that the crew aboard the 70-foot (21-meter) ship reported the fire on Saturday afternoon when it was about 700 miles west of Guam.

Lt. Richard Russell said a Navy search aircraft stationed in Japan flew to the site and saw eight people in a life raft and two more on the bridge of the burning ship. The Navy crew threw life rafts to help the two left behind.

The Coast Guard, relying on GPS-based system to locate ships in the area of a distressed vessel, then directed a cargo ship that was 40 miles away to come pick up the crewmembers.

First Published: Apr 23, 2012 11:01 IST