[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] On the third day since the Cheongboho capsizing accident, five of the nine missing persons were found dead on the 6th.
According to Mokpo Maritime Police Station, at around 5:46 PM that day, one more crew member was recovered unconscious and not breathing inside the hull.
The identity has not yet been confirmed.
Earlier that dawn, during an underwater search, the tragic news came that a crew member in his 60s, the chief engineer, was found dead in the crew quarters.
Then, at around 11:54 AM and 12:03 PM, two crew members in their 50s were confirmed to be in cardiac arrest in the crew quarters at the stern.
At around 4:17 PM, one missing person was found inside the hull and related measures were taken.
The rescue authorities are now focusing on searching for the remaining four.
With the consent of the families of the missing, the plan is to proceed with the search after completing the hull salvage.
Currently, a floating barrier is being installed, and once this work is completed, the Cheongboho will be lifted by a crane ship and placed on a barge for salvage.
If the situation is unfavorable, the plan is to tow the Cheongboho to a safe area and attempt salvage again.
The accident occurred on the 4th at around 11:19 PM, about 16.6 km west of Daebichi-do, Jaewon-ri, Imja-myeon, Sinan-gun, when the Cheongboho capsized due to flooding.
At that time, there were 12 crew members in total, of whom three were rescued immediately after the accident by a merchant ship.
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