Three Anglers Rescued After Disabled Fishing Float Drifts Off Miaoli Coast

Three anglers were towed to safety after their fishing float lost power off Taiwan’s Miaoli County and drifted offshore.

The incident occurred about two nautical miles off the southern shore of the Xihu River shortly after 2 p.m. on August 30. A companion vessel had already returned and could not assist, so the three anglers tried to paddle back to shore themselves.

They became exhausted while still nearly 1,000 meters from land. Dark clouds were approaching, and rain and stronger conditions appeared possible, leaving them unable to move the float.

The Coast Guard’s Fourth Patrol Directorate said it coordinated the Third Coast Guard Brigade, the Third Shore Patrol Brigade’s Longgang mobile patrol station, and several inspection stations after receiving the alert. A 30P rescue boat from Longgang reached the float first.

After assessing the situation, rescuers secured the float with a towline and pulled it and the three anglers back to shore. Checks found no abnormality in their physical condition, and they later returned home. The anglers thanked the Coast Guard for its rapid assistance.

The shore patrol urged people to check engines and equipment before going to sea. It also recommended the Go Ocean app for monitoring sea conditions and said people facing emergencies should call the Coast Guard’s 118 hotline.