Four crew members are dead and six remain missing after a 139-ton fishing vessel capsized off the coast of Yeosu, South Korea, early Sunday morning. According to the Korea Coast Guard, the ship was reported missing around 1:41 a.m. in waters approximately 17km east of Habeakdo. Coast Guard vessels and other fishing boats have rescued eight crew members so far, including two Vietnamese and two Indonesian nationals.
Emergency Response and Rescue Operations
The Korea Coast Guard deployed a search and rescue operation involving 24 patrol boats, four navy vessels, 13 aircraft, and various civilian and agency ships to locate the missing crew. The vessel had departed from Gamcheon Port in Busan on Saturday, heading toward the waters near Heuksan in South Jeolla Province.
Rescuers found two Vietnamese and two Indonesian crew members in a lifeboat, while other survivors were discovered drifting in the open sea. The two rescued Indonesian nationals were transported to the Yeosu Coast Guard office for questioning, while the Vietnamese survivors are receiving treatment for hypothermia at a local hospital.
The rescue effort faced significant hazards. A Coast Guard high-speed boat capsized during the search due to rough seas, though all six crew members on that vessel were successfully rescued by other nearby Coast Guard ships.
Investigation into the Cause of Capsizing
The Korea Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the sinking, noting that a vessel of over 100 tons overturning in waves measuring 2.5 meters is unusual. Based on testimony from the rescued Vietnamese crew, the ship tilted sharply to the left before capsizing. It was reported that 11 of the 14 crew members jumped into the sea.
A critical detail in the ongoing probe is that the vessel, along with four other fishing boats, failed to send a distress signal. This suggests the sinking happened unexpectedly, according to Coast Guard officials.
Casualty Breakdown and Crew Nationality
The vessel carried a multinational crew of 14 people (8 South Koreans, 3 Vietnamese, and 3 Indonesian nationals). The status of the crew is as follows:
- Confirmed Dead: 4 South Koreans, including the 66-year-old captain.
- Missing: 6 crew members.
- Rescued: 8.
Maritime Safety Context
The Coast Guard continues to search for the remaining six crew members.