TAIPEI (Taiwan News) —  A Taiwanese cargo ship, Hui Feng (輝豐), caught fire in waters near Kaohsiung Port, causing burns and scalding injuries to three crew members on Wednesday morning (June 12).

A fire in the ship's engine room was reported at 8 a.m., with the crew battling the blaze for one hour before it restarted. Due to safety concerns for the crew, the captain issued an abandon ship order. 

After receiving the ship's distress signal, the National Airborne Service Corps (NASC) dispatched two search and rescue aircraft and three boats. 

Two seriously injured individuals were airlifted onto a helicopter and taken to a hospital. Another injured person boarded a Coast Guard patrol vessel along with the remaining 10 crew members on the deck of the boat. 

According to the Coast Guard, Hui Feng had 10 Taiwanese crew members and two foreign crew members. The ship was 17 nautical miles (31 km) southwest of Kaohsiung Port when the fire broke out resulting in the distress signal, per CNA.

Both a Taiwanese and an Indonesian crew member had burns and scalding to limbs and were taken to Kaohsiung Municipal Siaogang Hospital for treatment. Both were conscious upon arrival, and are under observation in the hospital emergency room.

Another Taiwanese crew member, approximately 75 years of age, suffered burns and scalds to 30% of his face and hands. He was also conscious during the rescue and was sent to Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital for treatment. He is being treated in the emergency trauma department and will be transferred to the hospital's burn center.