Two fishing boats run aground off Jeju Island, one dead, three missing

A tragic accident occurred on February 1 morning when two fishing boats ran aground off the coast of Jeju Island, resulting in one death and leaving three crew members missing, the South Korean Coast Guard said.

The Coast Guard received reports at 9:24 a.m. that a 32-ton fishing boat with seven people aboard and a 29-ton vessel carrying eight crew members had become stranded on rocks in waters near the island, Caliber.Az reports per South Korean media.

As of noon, 12 crew members had been successfully rescued. However, the captain of the 32-ton boat was found in cardiac arrest and rushed to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. One other rescued crew member lost consciousness and was also hospitalized, though no serious health issues have been reported. The remaining 10 survivors were treated for mild hypothermia, and their condition is not considered critical.

A Coast Guard official was injured during the rescue efforts, sustaining a hand injury while assisting in the operation.

Authorities are continuing to search for the three missing crew members. The captains of both fishing boats are South Korean nationals, while the rest of the crew includes foreign nationals from Vietnam and Indonesia.

Acting President Choi Sang-mok has ordered the mobilization of all available resources for the ongoing search and rescue operation, while also emphasizing the importance of ensuring the safety of rescue personnel due to the adverse weather conditions at sea.

By Vafa Guliyeva