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27 Taiwan sailors rescued from typhoon Jangmi

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-09-28 20:54

XIAMEN -- Rescuers saved 27 Taiwan sailors whose boat was trapped in high waves triggered by upcoming typhoon Jangmi Sunday.

The maritime bureau of Xiamen, Fujian Province in east China, received an emergency call from a Taiwan-registered boat at about 5:50 p.m. Saturday. It lost control due to engine failure. 27 sailors onboard were in danger.

The bureau called on a nearby ship and two rescue boats to sail to the trapped vessel.

However, strong winds and high waves made the rescue attempt impossible.

The sailors were finally saved by helicopters dispatched by the bureau. The boat was dragged to safer water Sunday evening in Shantou, Guangdong Province.

Local maritime authorities were investigating the cause of the accident.

Jangmi, the 15th and strongest typhoon of this year, should land in the coastal areas of central or northern Taiwan on Sunday evening. It expected to weaken before approaching Zhejiang and Fujian provinces.

Fujian Province, which faces Taiwan across the Taiwan Strait, has recalled more than 50,000 vessels and evacuated more than 267,000 people working at sea.

Local authorities sent text messages to more than 9 million mobile subscribers to warn them of the storm.

Jangmi is coming on the heels of Hagupit, the 14th strong typhoon of this year which landed in the southern Guangdong Province last Wednesday.

Hagupit left China on Thursday and moved into Vietnam, after killing 17 people in the southern city of Yangjiang alone.