The Korea Coast Guard is conducting a nighttime search to find those missing after a Chinese fishing boat capsized in the West Sea high seas on the morning of the 9th.
The Mokpo Maritime Police Station has deployed two large patrol ships, three aircraft, and the West Sea Special Rescue Unit for an intensive search to find the three missing people. After sunset, the search has continued with support from military aircraft firing illumination rounds.
At about 6:50 a.m. on the 9th, a 98-ton Chinese fishing boat, the A, capsized on the high seas about 81 kilometers off Gageodo, Sinan, South Jeolla Province. In the accident, two of the 11 Chinese crew members died and three went missing. The remaining six were rescued by nearby fishing boats and was found to have no particular issues.
The Korea Coast Guard examined the hull and found no signs of external collision. Surviving crew members reportedly said, "While lowering the anchor, the boat suddenly listed and everyone escaped into the sea."
The Korea Coast Guard believes the fishing boat lost balance and capsized and is focusing the search on the possibility that the missing are drifting at sea. All eight people who were rescued, including the two who died, were wearing life jackets, but it has not yet been confirmed whether the three missing were wearing them.