A fishing boat sank near Habakdo, Yeosu, Jeollanam-do, resulting in 3 deaths and 7 missing persons. The Yeosu Coast Guard is conducting a search for the missing. Photo by Yeosu Coast Guard
An accident occurred near Habaekdo, Yeosu, Jeollanam-do, where a fishing vessel sank, resulting in 3 deaths and 7 missing persons.
According to the Yeosu Coast Guard and others on the 9th, a report was received at around 1:41 a.m. that the 139-ton large trawl fishing vessel Je22 Seogyeongho (with 14 crew members), registered in Busan, had disappeared about 17 km east of Habaekdo, Samsan-myeon, Yeosu.
The Yeosu Coast Guard dispatched personnel to the scene and rescued 7 crew members.
Three Koreans and four foreigners were rescued, but three Korean crew members, including Captain A (66), were found dead.
The four surviving crew members (two Indonesians and two Vietnamese) showed symptoms of hypothermia and will be transported to Chukjeong Port in Narodo, Goheung-gun, for hospital treatment.
A total of five people, including the deceased captain and four surviving foreign crew members, were rescued while aboard a life raft, while the two deceased Korean crew members were found drifting at sea without life jackets.
The rescued foreign crew members stated, "The vessel capsized due to wind and waves while sailing," but the cause of the accident is still under investigation.
To search for the seven missing crew members, the Coast Guard is conducting intensive search operations in the accident area, mobilizing 23 patrol vessels, 8 aircraft, 7 vessels from related agencies, and 15 civilian fishing boats.
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