Major Search and Rescue Operation After Fishing Vessel Collision in South Korea

The South Korean Coast Guard, supported by the Navy and other resources, launched a significant search and rescue operation following a collision between a commercial fishing vessel and a small cargo ship. The incident occurred early on Monday, December 9, southeast of Seoul, resulting in the capsizing of the fishing vessel.

A total of 15 Coast Guard vessels and six helicopters were deployed for the operation, with the country’s Prime Minister, Han Duck-soo, ordering an emergency rescue effort. The details surrounding the collision remain unclear, but the fishing boat, named Geungwang, was a 29-ton vessel with a crew of eight. Reports suggest that the other vessel involved was a sand barge with 10 crew members on board.

The Coast Guard successfully located the overturned fishing boat, and divers recovered the bodies of seven individuals, all of whom were in cardiac arrest and later pronounced dead at a local hospital. Among the deceased were three South Koreans and four foreigners, although their nationalities were not specified.

One Indonesian crew member from the fishing boat is still missing, and search efforts continue to locate this individual. The cargo ship reportedly sustained no damage, and there were no injuries reported among its crew members.