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| ▲ Rescued crew members are taken to a nearby port after their fishing boat sank off the coast of Jeju Island on Nov. 8, 2024, in this photo provided by the Jeju firefighting and safety headquarters. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
(2nd LD) Jeju-ship sinking
(2nd LD) 2 dead, 12 missing after fishing boat sinks off Jeju Island
(ATTN: UPDATES with latest developments; CHANGES photo)
JEJU, South Korea, Nov. 8 (Yonhap) -- Two people died and 12 others remained missing after a fishing boat sank off the southern island of Jeju on Friday, with a search under way, the Coast Guard said.
The 129-ton Geumseong was carrying 27 crew members -- 16 South Koreans and 11 foreigners -- when the Coast Guard received a distress call at 4:33 a.m. that the boat was sinking 24 kilometers off Jeju's Biyang Island.
Of the 27, 15 were rescued, including two who were found unconscious, and taken to nearby hospitals. The two, both South Koreans, were later pronounced dead.
The rescued crew members said 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 defense and oceans ministries, to mobilize all available resources and personnel to rescue the missing, according to presidential spokesperson Jeong Hye-jeon.
He also called for ensuring the safety of the rescue workers.
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