Heartbreaking news from the waters off South Korea's beautiful Jeju Island: a fishing journey turned tragic when a 129-tonne vessel sank early Friday morning. 🌊
At around 4:30 a.m. (1930 GMT on Thursday), a nearby boat sounded the alarm, reporting that the fishing boat was going under. The swift response from authorities launched a massive rescue operation, according to Chung Moo-won, a Jeju coast guard official.
Of the 27 crew members on board, 15 have been rescued. Sadly, two of them, both South Korean nationals, later passed away after being hospitalized. Twelve people are still missing, including two friends from Indonesia. 🇰🇷🇮🇩
An impressive fleet of 43 vessels, which included three navy ships, 13 aircraft, and deep-sea divers, has been working tirelessly to find the missing. \"We offer our condolences to the bereaved families and will make utmost efforts to find the missing by mobilizing all rescue equipment and resources,\" Chung said in a televised briefing.
One of the survivors shared with Yonhap News Agency that the boat capsized while they were hauling up fishing nets to transfer the catch to another vessel. Authorities are now investigating the exact cause by interviewing those who made it back safely.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has ordered all available resources to be deployed for the operation, emphasizing the safety of the rescue workers. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has also called for additional support, including military flares and aircraft, to assist in night operations. ✈️🚁
Our hearts go out to all affected by this tragedy. Let's hope for the safe return of the missing crew members. 💙
Reference(s):
2 dead and 12 missing after fishing boat sinks off South Korean island
cgtn.com
