TONGYEONG - A devastating incident occurred off the southern coastal city of Tongyeong, where a fishing boat capsized, resulting in the death of four individuals and leaving five others missing.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the 20-ton vessel, carrying two South Koreans and seven Indonesians, overturned in waters approximately 68 kilometers south of an island within Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, early Saturday morning.
In response to the tragedy, an extensive search and rescue operation was launched, involving about 20 ships and four airplanes, aimed at locating the missing crew members through an underwater search. The Coast Guard reported the recovery of four crew members on Saturday; three were found unconscious inside the capsized vessel and urgently transported to a hospital. Unfortunately, despite these efforts, the four individuals, including the South Korean skipper and three Indonesian crew members, were later pronounced dead.
Efforts to address the aftermath of the incident continue, with plans to salvage the sunken fishing boat later on Sunday. The search for the five missing crew members remains underway as authorities and rescue teams work tirelessly to provide closure to the families affected by this maritime disaster.