Urgent Search Underway for Missing Crew After South Korea Fishing Boat Capsizes
A critical search and rescue operation is currently underway off South Korea's western coast following the capsizing of a fishing vessel. The 9.77-ton boat, carrying seven crew members, overturned on Thursday evening, specifically around 6:20 p.m., in the waters near the Cheollipo area of Taean in South Chungcheong Province. This location is approximately 140 kilometers southwest of the capital, Seoul.
Intense Rescue Efforts & Unaccounted Crew
Tragically, four of the seven individuals aboard the vessel remain unaccounted for, despite immediate rescue efforts. The Taean Coast Guard swiftly responded to the distress call, dispatching a fleet of seven patrol and rescue boats to the incident site to commence an intensive search operation. Three crew members have been successfully pulled from the waters.
Government Directs Full Mobilization
Officials from the Taean Coast Guard have confirmed the ongoing search for the four missing sailors, while also working diligently to ascertain if there have been any fatalities. The gravity of the situation prompted an immediate response from the highest levels of government. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, upon receiving a briefing on the maritime accident, issued a directive for all available resources to be mobilized and dedicated to the critical search for the missing crew members. The nation watches anxiously as the search continues in challenging conditions.