JEJU, South Korea: Two people died and 12 others remain missing after a fishing boat sank off the southern island of Jeju on Friday, with a search underway, the Coast Guard reported.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the 129-ton Geumseong was carrying 27 crew members—16 South Koreans and 11 foreigners—when the Coast Guard received a distress call at 4.33am indicating that the boat was sinking 24 kilometres off Jeju’s Biyang Island.
Of the 27 crew members, 15 were rescued, including two who were found unconscious and taken to nearby hospitals. Two others, both South Koreans, were later pronounced dead.
The rescued crew members reported that 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.