TAIPEI, July 13, 2008 (AFP) - Eight Taiwanese nationals are missing after their boat was feared to have sunk off the coast of Madagascar, relatives and the foreign ministry said Sunday.

The brother of Liu Shou-chih, one member of the missing group, said he had used his satellite phone to call for help on Friday.

'The signals were not clear...all I heard were words like 'boat,' 'water, and 'cabin leaking' with the sound of water and wind in the background, and before long, we lost contact,' Liu Shang-wei told local television.

He said the incident apparently took place when Liu, who has done business in Madagascar for 11 years, and seven Taiwanese partners hired a boat to inspect an offshore fishing pond.

Taiwan's foreign ministry pledged to 'mobilise every channel available' to help the family. Taiwan and Madagascar do not have diplomatic relations.