U.S. Coast Guard crews from Honolulu on Monday responded to a report of a fire aboard a fishing vessel that forced the 28-member crew to abandon ship 900 miles southwest of Honolulu.

At 7:30 a.m. Monday, the Rescue Coordination Center in Taiwan reported to the Coast Guard that the 28-member crew of the Taiwanese-flagged fishing vessel Hou Chun 11 had abandoned ship and were in two life rafts.
No injuries were reported.
A Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules launched at approximately 10 a.m. Monday and arrived at the Hou Chun 11’s last known position, 900 miles southwest of Honolulu, at approximately 1 p.m. The Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley, homeported in Kodiak, Alaska, and the Hou Chun 11’s sister ship, Shin Shun, also were en route.
The Hercules’ crew spotted two rafts at approximately 1:30 p.m., and are scheduled to stay in the area until 5 p.m. A U.S. Navy P-3 aircrew is scheduled to relieve the Coast Guard aircrew at approximately 5:30 p.m. and will stay in the area until later Monday night, the Coast Guard said.
A second Coast Guard flight is scheduled to arrive at 11 p.m. and stay on scene until the cutter Haley arrives Tuesday morning.
The cause of the fire is unknown.