All 267 people aboard a large passenger ferry that ran aground off the coast of Sinan, South Jeolla Province, have been rescued.
On November 20, the Mokpo Coast Guard announced that at approximately 11:27 p.m. the previous day, all 267 people-including 246 passengers and 21 crew members-aboard the Queen Zenobia 2 were safely rescued.
Earlier, at around 8:17 p.m., a report was received that the 26,000-ton passenger ferry Queen Zenobia 2, carrying these passengers, had run aground on rocks near Jukdo, an uninhabited island off Jangsan-myeon, Sinan County, South Jeolla Province. It was reported that the ferry had come to rest atop Jukdo, a small uninhabited island near Jangsan-do.
The Coast Guard is transporting the rescued individuals to the Mokpo Coast Guard exclusive pier using Coast Guard vessels, while the 21 crew members are reportedly remaining on board the ship.
A Coast Guard vessel carrying elderly and vulnerable passengers departed first and arrived at the pier around 11:00 p.m. Passengers who arrived on land are expected to move to accommodations secured by South Jeolla Province.
Some passengers who sustained injuries are being transported directly to hospitals.
The ferry had departed Jeju at 4:45 p.m. the previous day and was scheduled to arrive in Mokpo at 9:00 p.m.
The Coast Guard plans to investigate the exact circumstances of the accident after completing the rescue operation.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
