JEJU (South Korea), Nov 8 (Bernama-Yonhap) – Two people died and 12 others remain missing after a fishing boat sank off the southern island of Jeju on Friday, with a search underway, the Coast Guard reported.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the 129-tonne Geumseong was carrying 27 crew members—16 South Koreans and 11 foreigners—when the Coast Guard received a distress call at 4.33 am indicating that the boat was sinking 24 kilometres off Jeju's Biyang Island.
Of the 27 crew members, 15 were rescued, including two who were found unconscious and taken to nearby hospitals. Two others, both South Koreans, were later pronounced dead.
The rescued crew members reported that they were transferring their catch to another vessel when the boat suddenly capsized and began to sink, according to the Coast Guard. The boat is now completely underwater.
President Yoon Suk Yeol was briefed on the sinking and instructed relevant agencies, including the Coast Guard and the defence and oceans ministries, to mobilise all available resources and personnel to rescue the missing, according to presidential spokesperson Jeong Hye-jeon.
He also called for measures to ensure the safety of the rescue workers.
-- BERNAMA-YONHAP
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