7/13/2002: Boat afire

These are Chinese fishermen, and they are not in a good situation. Not only is their boat on fire, but a tropical storm is making the sea rough, and they have to be rescued by Taiwanese helicopter and other smaller boats.

Despite all that, only one fisherman was lost. Out of 133 people! I guess that, in this shot, a lot of 'em have already been saved.

Is it just me or do a couple of those guys appear to be naked?

Some are just wearing shorts, and one is wearing an orange shirt I think.

Didn't even have time to take in the laundry! You have to wonder, the boat hardly looks seaworthy for those kinds of waves, regardless of the fire.

I wonder how 133 people could all have jobs on a ship that small... what, maybe a 100' vessel? even at three shifts that's 40ish workers on at a time.

hmmm... yah got a point there. Maybe they were making for Taiwan?