Three people died yesterday after being found unconscious inside the cabin of a work vessel at Meng’ao Harbor (猛澳港) on Dongju Island (東莒島) in Lienchiang County (Matsu), with rescuers later detecting high levels of carbon monoxide (CO) at the scene.
The three showed no signs of life when rescuers pulled them from the cabin and were later pronounced dead at the local Chukuang Health Center, authorities said.
Photo courtesy of the Matsu Coast Guard
All three were Taiwanese working for a subcontractor hired to repair the vessel.
The vessel was being used by a contractor the Lienchiang County Government had commissioned to renovate Meng’ao Harbor.
The Lienchiang County Fire Department received a report at 10:40am that three workers were trapped and unconscious inside the cabin.
Rescuers reported high levels of CO at the scene, but said they did not have the equipment to test for other gases.
Media reports said that the deaths may have been linked to exposure to biogas, but authorities said the cause remains under investigation.
Lienchiang County Deputy Commissioner Chen Kuan-jen (陳冠人) said the county government had cordoned off the construction site and ordered the contractor to suspend work, and that it would fully cooperate with prosecutors and the Ministry of Labor in their investigation.
Anyone found responsible for violations or negligence during construction would be held accountable under the law, he said.
The vessel, Dongping No. 17 (東坪17號), was used to transport materials for construction work at the harbor, Chen said.
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