Giant Whirlpool may have sucked down freighter
Pastor Dale Morgan
Giant Whirlpool may have sucked down freighter
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From correspondents in Taipei, Taiwan
December 03, 2007 04:27pm
Article from: Reuters
A FREIGHTER may have sunk in a whirlpool last week, dragging down as
many as 27 crew members within five minutes after the ship was struck by
a giant wave off Taiwan.
The eddy between currents about 35 nautical miles east of Taiwan's
northern tip is suspected of sinking the ship, which was carrying iron
ore and an Indonesian crew of 28.
One crew member was found alive, clinging to his life vest, a day after
the freighter went down last Tuesday.
"A whirlpool effect is possible," said Taiwan Coast Guard spokesman
Hsieh Ching-ching after hearing the survivor's account.
"Some of the sailors couldn't put on their lifejackets in time, so there
are some who didn't make it up."
Typhoon Mitag generated stormy seas east of Taiwan last week after
killing about 19 in the Philippines.
Although the coast guard normally calls off searches within 72 hours, it
has extended its hunt for the ship to a seventh day, using 12 boats and
a helicopter.