4 Dead, 6 Missing After Fishing Trawler Sinks Off Southern Coast

YEOSU (South Korea), Feb 9 (Bernama-Yonhap) -- A fishing trawler with 14 crew members on board sank in waters off South Korea's southern coast early Sunday, leaving four people dead and six missing, officials said, with rescue efforts underway, Yonhap News Agency reported.

The 139-tonne vessel, carrying eight South Koreans, three Vietnamese and three Indonesians, was reported missing at 1.41 am local time in waters about 17 kilometres east of the island of Habaek, near Yeosu, located 316 km south of Seoul.

Coast Guard vessels and other fishing boats have so far rescued eight crew members, but four South Koreans have died, including the vessel's 66-year-old captain.

Five of the rescued, including the captain, two Vietnamese and two Indonesian crew members, were found aboard a life raft, while the others were discovered drifting in the waters.

One of the recovered South Koreans was found drifting unconscious at 8:42 a.m. but was later determined dead.

The two rescued Indonesians have been moved to the Coast Guard's office in Yeosu to be interviewed about the accident, while the Vietnamese nationals are being treated at a nearby hospital after showing signs of hypothermia.

One of the foreign crew members said the vessel had capsized due to the wind and waves, but authorities are expected to investigate the exact cause of the accident.

The Coast Guard has deployed 23 vessels and eight aircraft, along with support from other agencies and fishing vessels, to try to find the missing crew members.

During search efforts in the morning, a Coast Guard high-speed boat capsized due to high waves but all of the personnel on board were rescued by another nearby Coast Guard vessel.

-- BERNAMA-YONHAP