Passengers rescued from stricken Taiwanese ship

Fuzhou (China), May 15 (Xinhua-ANI): All 153 people on a Taiwanese passenger ship that was in danger of sinking around the Minjiang River estuary in southeast China's Fujian Province have been rescued, local authorities said Tuesday.

With those on board including passengers and five crew members, the "Golden Dragon" started to take in water and flood at about 9:20 a.m. while sailing from Taiwan's Mazu harbor to Mawei harbor in coastal Fujian, the Fujian Provincial Maritime Search and Rescue Center said.

As of noon, 148 passengers and their luggages have been safely transferred to three rescue vessels, the center said.

The crew members are still on board to help with draining and other rescue work. The ship is in a stable condition after rescuers closed its fuel valves.

The accident cause is being investigated. (Xinhua-ANI)