Three dead after fishing boat crashes into rocks off South Korea's coast

Three people were killed when a fishing boat carrying 22 passengers struck rocks off South Korea’s southwest coast on January 4, authorities confirmed.

The incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. near Gageo Island in Sinan, South Jeolla Province, when the vessel crashed into rocky terrain, Caliber.Az reports via Korean media.

The Coast Guard, which responded quickly to the scene, reported that the three victims were found in cardiac arrest. Despite attempts to revive them, they were pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

The remaining 19 passengers were rescued by the Coast Guard and a nearby vessel. They had jumped into the sea to await rescue after the boat began to capsize. Fortunately, they were all in stable condition and did not suffer life-threatening injuries.

Initially, authorities reported that 21 people were aboard the boat, but later clarified that there were 22 passengers on board. An investigation into the cause of the accident is underway, with officials also looking into the discrepancy in the headcount.

The Coast Guard has indicated that the captain of the fishing boat could face charges of professional negligence resulting in death as part of the ongoing inquiry.

By Tamilla Hasanova