Fishing Boat Fire off Jeju Coast...All 16 Rescued (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters (Jeju) Reporter Hwang Jeongpil] A fire broke out on a fishing boat returning from hairtail fishing off the coast of Jeju, but no major casualties occurred.

According to the Jeju Coast Guard on the 24th, at around 4:53 a.m. that day, a fire broke out on fishing boat A (9.77t) about 8.3 km northeast off Udo, Jeju.

On board boat A were the captain and one crew member, along with 14 anglers. When the fire broke out, some of the anglers reportedly jumped into the sea.

Upon receiving the report, the Coast Guard immediately requested rescue assistance from other fishing boats operating nearby.

They then dispatched patrol vessels to extinguish the fire, but by around 9:58 a.m., the fishing boat was completely burned and sank below the surface.

All 16 people on board were safely rescued, though some showed symptoms such as hypothermia and were transported to a hospital.

The Coast Guard confirmed that the fishing boat was carrying a total of 2,400 liters of fuel and is investigating the occurrence of marine pollution.