Two crew members have been confirmed dead, and 12 others remain missing after a fishing boat sank off the coast of Jeju Island, South Korea, on Friday, November 8, 2024.
The incident, which occurred early in the morning, left the vessel’s 27-person crew in peril, and rescue operations are currently underway.
According to the South Korean Coast Guard, 15 crew members were rescued, including two who were found unconscious and later pronounced dead at the hospital.
The Coast Guard received a distress call at 4:33 AM local time (1933 GMT Thursday) reporting that the 129-ton fishing boat was sinking while transferring its catch to a transport ship.
The boat suddenly capsized and went down, with only two crew members inside at the time of the incident, while the rest were on the deck.
The boat had a total of 27 crew members aboard, including 16 South Koreans and 11 foreigners.
Two of the missing crew members are foreign nationals. The incident occurred around 24 kilometers (15 miles) off Biyang, a small island near Jeju.
President Yoon Suk Yeol has ordered the mobilization of all available resources for the ongoing search-and-rescue efforts.
The Coast Guard has deployed 18 vessels and five aircraft to the scene, while the navy has sent six additional vessels, a patrol aircraft, and a helicopter to assist.
The rescue operations continue as authorities work to locate the remaining missing crew members.
