TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A ferry transporting passengers from Lanyu to Pingtung ran aground on Friday due to strong winds. 

The Jinxing III ferry was pushed onto the coast near Lanyu’s Kaiyuan Fishing Harbor area, with 55 passengers and eight crew members on board, UDN reported. The incident occurred around 3 p.m., with no injuries reported. 

The Coast Guard dispatched two patrol boats to evacuate the stranded passengers and take them to shore. The operation was also assisted by local fishers, per CNA. 

The ship had just departed from Lanyu to take passengers to Houbihu Fishing Port in Pintung County, a regular service offered by the Jinxing Passenger Ship company. After the accident, the Jinxing III was safely towed back to the Kaiyuan Fishing Harbor. 

The Maritime Port Bureau and the Coast Guard will investigate the incident.

Turbulent conditions caused by the northeast monsoon were cited as the reason for the accident. At 4:30 p.m., the Central Weather Administration issued a warning for strong winds in the area.