Seoul: A Chinese fishing boat capsizes in South Korea, leaving nine crew members unaccounted for. This occurred after the vessel overturned in the country’s southwestern waters on Monday morning, according to local officials.
The 99-tonne fishing vessel reportedly turned over around 150 kilometres southwest of Eocheong Island at about 8:53 a.m., the Gunsan Coast Guard confirmed. They cited a distress call from the Chinese Coast Guard. Out of 11 people on board, two were rescued by a nearby cargo ship, while nine remain missing.
South Korean authorities have deployed four patrol vessels and multiple helicopters to the site. This is part of a large-scale search and rescue mission.
The incident occurred just a day after another Chinese fishing vessel capsized in nearby waters. It killed two crew members and left three others missing. Six crew members were rescued by nearby ships, according to Yonhap News Agency.
Earlier this month, a separate Chinese fishing boat also sank off Gageo Island, resulting in multiple casualties. That 98-tonne vessel went down about 80 kilometres from the island. Some of the rescued crew were later found in cardiac arrest.
Officials say they are coordinating closely with Chinese authorities to locate the remaining missing fishermen.
The tragic events echo memories of the 2014 MV Sewol ferry disaster, one of South Korea’s worst maritime accidents. It highlights ongoing challenges in sea safety and rescue coordination.
As maritime traffic grows across the Yellow Sea, authorities stress the importance of stricter safety checks. Better communication between neighboring coast guards is also crucial to prevent future tragedies, like when a Chinese fishing boat capsizes in South Korea again.
–IANS
