Yeongheung:A fishing boat caught fire off the Yellow Sea island of Yeongheung on Saturday, leading to the rescue of all 22 individuals on board. Two of them were subsequently taken to a hospital due to smoke inhalation, according to officials.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the incident occurred when the 9.77-ton charter fishing boat caught fire at 651 a.m. in waters 0.9 nautical mile south of the island. Upon receiving a distress call, the Coast Guard dispatched patrol and rescue boats to extinguish the fire and successfully rescued everyone aboard.
Among the rescued, two people, including the boat's skipper, required hospital treatment for smoke inhalation. Additionally, two Coast Guard officers also inhaled smoke and are planning to seek medical attention.
The Coast Guard is set to conduct an investigation into the exact cause of the fire and assess the damage, with initial witness reports indicating that sparks and smoke originated from the boat's passenger cabin.