Four fishermen escaped a burning boat off Taiwan's Hsinchu coast and were rescued unhurt — a lucky outcome from a serious accident.

• The boat caught fire in the late afternoon about 3.5 nautical miles out from Hsinchu fishing harbor.
• All four crew — two Taiwanese and two foreign workers — jumped into the water and were pulled out by the coast guard and nearby boats.
• None of them were hurt, and they were brought back to shore for checks.
• The flames and thick smoke were visible from more than ten kilometers away along the coast, drawing crowds of onlookers.

Outlook: The cause of the fire is still being investigated, with the burnt boat left drifting offshore.