Fisherman Pulled From Water After Taiwan Bridge Falls

Story By: John Feng, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report

Video Credit: AsiaWire / Northern Branch CGA

This is the moment rescuers retrieve the body of a fisherman from the Taiwanese fishing harbour where a 450-foot-long steel bridge collapsed and landed on top of his vessel.

The latest images supplied to Asia Wire by the island’s Coast Guard Administration as well as the National Fire Agency show search and rescue operations continuing into the early hours of today (2nd October).

Pictures Credit: AsiaWire / Northern Branch CGA

The Nanfang’ao Bridge in the township of Su’ao, which is in Taiwan’s eastern county of Yilan, collapsed into the sea at the Nanfang’ao Fishing Harbor at roughly 9:30am on 1st October.

New coastguard video shows the centre of the single steel-arch bridge falling into the water and landing on three fishing vessels moored underneath it as a tanker lorry nears the other side.

Pictures Credit: AsiaWire / Northern Branch CGA

The lorry plunges downwards with the crumbling road and later caught fire.

Witnesses pulled Taiwanese lorry driver Mr Chang, 61, from the wreckage, and he is one of 12 people confirmed to have been injured during the accident, including nine fishermen and two members of the coastguard.

Pictures Credit: AsiaWire / Northern Branch CGA

The fishermen now receiving treatment in a local hospital are all foreign nationals from Indonesia and the Philippines, reports said.

The National Fire Agency, which is heading up rescue efforts with the island’s military, had reported six victims – between the ages of 29 and 47 – unaccounted for as searches continued through midnight.

Pictures Credit: AsiaWire / Northern Branch CGA

However, officials have since announced the discovery of four bodies found in the shattered wreckage of the vessels underneath bridge debris, with two fishermen still missing.

The authorities said rescue efforts have been made difficult by a layer of petrol on the surface of the water, while divers also encountered large fishing nets – belonging to the destroyed fishing boats – in the sea.

Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen has promised a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident, with the probe set to begin as soon as rescue operations conclude.

The landmark Nanfang’ao Bridge, which is 450 long and 50 feet wide, was completed in 1999 and is Taiwan’s only single steel-arch bridge.

According to reports, the bridge collapsed after one of its cables snapped due to suspected rust and neglect.

It is said to have been maintained once every four years.

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