13 people missing off Madagascar

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar, July 13 (UPI) -- Thirteen people, including eight Taiwanese businessmen in a stalled boat taking on water are missing off the Madagascar coast, sources said.

An unidentified Chinese embassy official said the missing group, which also includes a Chinese national and four crew members, were traveling from Sainte Marie island near northeastern Madagascar, China's official state-run news agency, Xinhua, reported Sunday.

Meanwhile, an unnamed source told the news agency the ship had begun taking on water Thursday after its engine failed. The source added contact with the ship was lost about midnight Thursday and the search for survivors began Friday. Two of the vessel's six crew members were rescued, Xinhua reported.