At least four were killed and over 30 injured Sunday when a fire broke out on a boat carrying 132 local tourists in southwestern Taiwan, according to news reaching Hongkong from Taipei.

The boat was heading from the southern fishing port of Tungkang to a nearby island when the blaze broke out at noon.

Four people drowned after some tourists leapt into the sea to escape the flames. More than 30 others were injured.

The rest of the tourists were rescued by a fleet of six coastguard patrol boats and fishing boats. It was not clear how many crew were aboard the ship.  

(Xinhua News Agency August 1, 2005)