In a desperate attempt to locate nine missing crew members from a capsized Chinese fishing boat off the west coast of South Korea, the South Korean Coast Guard initiated a large-scale search and rescue operation on Monday (November 10). This incident marks the second Chinese fishing boat capsizing in the area within just two days.
The latest incident occurred on Monday morning when a 99-ton Chinese fishing vessel capsized approximately 150 kilometers (93 miles) southwest of Eocheong Island in Gunsan.
The ill-fated fishing boat was carrying a total of 11 crew members. Two of them were promptly rescued by a passing cargo ship in the vicinity.
Upon receiving a distress signal from the Chinese Coast Guard, the South Korean Coast Guard swiftly dispatched four patrol vessels, two helicopters, and a fixed-wing aircraft to the scene.
Rescue teams discovered an oil slick at the site, believed to be leaked fuel from the fishing boat, but no other debris or floating objects have been found yet.
According to Kim Yeong-cheol, an official from the Gunsan Coast Guard, the vessel was likely fishing for croaker and hairtail in the area.
The day before this incident, on Sunday (November 9), another more fatal incident of a capsized Chinese fishing boat occurred near Gageo Island in southwestern South Korea, approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) away from the island.
The 98-ton fishing boat involved in this incident was carrying 11 crew members. Six of them were rescued by nearby Chinese fishing vessels, while two sailors were found to have suffered cardiac arrests upon rescue and subsequently passed away, leaving three crew members still missing.
The South Korean Coast Guard, along with Chinese Coast Guard ships, is conducting joint search and rescue operations in the vicinity of the accident area to locate the missing individuals.
Both incidents took place in international waters. The Chinese Consulate-General in Gwangju has confirmed the relevant information of the two incidents and has been coordinating with South Korean authorities.
South Korean authorities have reported that the two successive incidents occurring within two days have resulted in the deaths of 2 crew members and the disappearance of 12 crew members, with 3 individuals missing from the first incident and 9 from the second.