PENGHU (TVBS News) — A tourism boat burst into flames on Friday (June 20) at a remote island pier in Taiwan's scenic Penghu archipelago, forcing its lone occupant to leap into the surrounding waters to escape. The vessel, identified as "Juhang No. 58" (鉅航58號), was engulfed in fire shortly after docking at Niaoyu Pier (鳥嶼碼頭) in Baisha Township (白沙鄉), a sparsely populated area of Penghu County (澎湖縣), a popular tourist destination off Taiwan's western coast.
Witnesses rushed to assist the individual, helping him swim back to safety, according to Penghu's Fire Bureau (澎湖縣政府消防局), the local emergency response agency. The victim, whose identity has not been disclosed, exhibited symptoms of pneumothorax, a potentially life-threatening condition where air collects between the lung and chest wall. Emergency responders initially transported him to the nearby Niaoyu Health Center before transferring him to the more comprehensive Tri-Service General Hospital Penghu Branch (三總澎湖分院) for specialized treatment.
The local fire department mobilized immediately, sending two emergency vehicles and three firefighters to the scene. Incident commander Chen Chin-tiao (陳金條) told officials that persistent smoke continued billowing from the yacht, creating hazardous conditions for first responders. The remote location of Niaoyu Pier presented additional challenges, with limited road access hampering the arrival of heavy firefighting equipment. Responders improvised by setting up portable pumps to draw seawater directly from the surrounding ocean to battle the stubborn blaze.
As flames continued to threaten the vessel, authorities escalated their response. Deputy Battalion Chief Wang Szu-yuan (王思源) led a specialized five-member support team that navigated to the isolated island by boat, bringing additional equipment and expertise. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with officials declining to speculate on potential triggers until a thorough assessment can be conducted. Local maritime authorities have cordoned off the area as recovery efforts continue into the evening hours. ◼
