Jeju, October 5 (Daily Kiran) : A fishing boat capsized early Monday near Jeju Island, a popular tourist destination in South Korea. Of the 11 people on board, nine were rescued with the help of nearby fishing vessels, while the captain and one Indonesian crew member remain unaccounted for.
According to the Jeju Coast Guard, the 29-ton coastal longline fishing vessel overturned around 3:04 AM, approximately 65 kilometers northwest of Chagwi Island. Upon receiving news of the incident, the coast guard launched an immediate rescue operation.
Nearby fishing boats were the first to respond, successfully pulling the nine foreign crew members from the water. Among those rescued were eight Indonesians and one Vietnamese national, all of whom are reported to be in stable condition.
However, the captain and one Indonesian crew member are still missing. The South Korean Coast Guard has initiated a large-scale search operation, deploying helicopters and patrol boats to the scene, along with a naval vessel and several civilian fishing boats to assist in the search.
Local officials noted that sea conditions were challenging at the time of the accident, with northwesterly winds reaching speeds of 12 to 14 meters per second and waves rising to about two meters. The safety of the rescue teams remains a significant concern as they continue the search for the missing individuals.
The cause of the incident has not yet been determined. Authorities are also working to confirm the exact number of people on board the vessel. Initial reports indicated that only eight individuals were aboard when the boat set out, but it was later revealed that there were a total of 11 people present.
South Korean Prime Minister Han Seung-soo has instructed officials to deploy all available resources and personnel for the rescue mission. He emphasized the need to verify the number and identities of the missing individuals while ensuring the safety of the rescue teams.
The greatest challenge for South Korean maritime officials now is to locate the two missing crew members as quickly as possible, amid adverse sea conditions that complicate ongoing search efforts.
Leave a Comment