Once the news broke, Taiwan's news media did their best to track down the story, even sending reporters to the scene. According to a United Daily report from Pingtan on August 5, it was believed locally that the tragedy was due to a fight over ownership of the boat between groups from Pingtan and Foochow.
這件事經新華社報導後，國內新聞媒體也全力追蹤、採訪，甚至跨海訪問。根據聯合報記者八月五日在平潭實地採訪結果，福州、平潭等地人都傳說這件慘案的發生，是因為平潭人與福州人在被遣返途中因爭奪漁船所有權造成。