A fire broke out on a fishing boat near Wangdeungdo in Buan County, North Jeolla Province. It is reported that 11 people, including the captain and crew members, were on board. Five have been rescued, and six are still missing.
According to the Buan Coast Guard, at about 8:39 a.m. on the 13th, a fire erupted on a 34-ton offshore trap fishing boat registered in Busan while passing through the waters 4 kilometers east of Wangdeungdo.
The Coast Guard dispatched 10 patrol boats to the fire scene and requested assistance from nearby fishing boats, which helped to rescue five of the crew members. Search operations are ongoing for the remaining six, centered around the accident site. Fire authorities arrived at the scene upon the Coast Guard's request and are working to extinguish the fire on the fishing boat.
It is reported that a wave warning has been issued in the accident area, making search and rescue efforts challenging.
Choi Sang-mok, acting president and Minister of Strategy and Finance, instructed on that day, 'Mobilize all available resources, including fishing and cargo ships, to prioritize saving lives.'
Acting Minister Choi said, 'The Ministry of Interior and Safety, Ministry of National Defense, and North Jeolla Province should actively support personnel and equipment that can be mobilized for maritime rescue to ensure smooth rescue operations on-site.' He added, 'Ensure thorough search efforts for missing persons through accurate verification of crew members,' and emphasized the importance of the safety of rescue team members.
He directed the Fire Agency to 'establish cooperation systems for maritime rescue activities and support emergency relief measures for patients being transferred to land.'