Fishing boat capsizes off Jeju; nine rescued, two missing as search continues
Version 2: The vessel is now identified as the No. 7 Seongjin-ho, which left Samcheonpo Port on October 2 with a declared crew of eight; the nine rescued landed at Hallim Port, survivors said the captain was in the wheelhouse when the boat went over, the coast guard began an overnight search after finding no one by day, and it is investigating a possible false crew-list declaration.
In short
A 29-tonne fishing vessel registered in Sacheon capsized at about 03:04 on October 5 about 65 kilometres northwest of Chagwido, off Jeju, with 11 people aboard. Nine crew — eight Indonesians and one Vietnamese — were rescued and taken to Hallim Port; the 58-year-old Korean captain and one Indonesian crew member are still missing. The coast guard moved from a daytime search of 17 ships and four aircraft to a night search with seven ships, two aircraft and 110 flares, and is investigating why the departure report listed eight crew when 11 were aboard.
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A 29-tonne near-shore fishing vessel registered in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, capsized about 65 kilometres northwest of Chagwido, off Jeju, at about 03:04 on October 5, according to the Jeju Provincial Coast Guard. Eleven people were aboard. Nine were rescued and two — the 58-year-old Korean captain and one Indonesian crew member — remain missing, the coast guard said. Outlets named the vessel as the No. 7 Seongjin-ho. [ 3 , 7 , 11 , 25 , 27 , 28 , 30 , 37 , 38 ]
The nine rescued — eight Indonesians and one Vietnamese — were taken from the water by the 70-tonne vessel Hwanggeum-ho, which was fishing nearby, according to the coast guard and the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives, which asked fishing boats in the area to help. The coast guard said they complained of mild hypothermia but were in no serious health trouble. They landed at Hallim Port in Jeju at about 11:40 on October 5, local authorities said, after health and fire officials and the Korean Red Cross checked them. [ 7 , 13 , 16 , 19 , 25 , 34 , 37 ]
The coast guard said the Seongjin-ho left Samcheonpo Port in Sacheon at about 08:50 on October 2 for a yellow corvina fishing trip expected to last about ten days. Its departure report listed eight crew, but 11 were aboard, three more than declared. Newsis reported that the coast guard had confirmed circumstances suggesting a false crew-list declaration and was investigating the discrepancy alongside the cause of the accident. [ 16 , 27 , 28 , 30 , 34 , 37 ]
A coast guard helicopter reached the scene at about 04:28 and searched the capsized hull without detecting any signals from the missing, and a national fisheries guidance ship arrived at about 05:00, officials said. Newsis reported that 17 ships, including 11 coast guard patrol ships, and four aircraft were used during the day and that two attempts to enter the hull underwater found no one. After sunset the coast guard began a night search with seven ships and two aircraft over an area roughly 37 kilometres by 37 kilometres, dropping 110 flares, to run until 06:00 the next morning. It said winds of 10 to 14 metres per second and waves of around 2 to 2.5 metres hampered the operation at a site about 80 metres deep with a water temperature of 24 degrees. [ 7 , 11 , 16 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 34 , 37 ]
Survivors told the coast guard the captain was in the wheelhouse when the vessel went over, and the last position of the missing Indonesian crew member is not known, officials said. The first report came from a nearby fishing boat to the Mokpo fisheries safety office rather than from the Seongjin-ho, according to Dong-A Ilbo and CBS NoCut News. The Chosun Ilbo reported that crew said the vessel lost its balance while hauling in nets; the coast guard has not stated a cause and says it is questioning the rescued crew. [ 16 , 26 , 27 , 37 , 38 ]
Prime Minister Han Seong-suk, briefed on the capsizing, ordered the oceans ministry and the coast guard to mobilise “all available ships, underwater rescue divers and equipment” to save lives first, her office said, and told the interior and defence ministries and Jeju province to support the operation and protect rescuers. Interior Minister Yoon Ho-jung ordered all available equipment and personnel committed and precautions against a secondary accident, and Oceans Minister Hwang Jong-woo told the coast guard and fisheries management bodies to use the maximum rescue resources. Jeju Governor Wi Seong-gon visited the on-site situation room at the Hallim fishing vessel owners' association office, ordered all resources committed to finding the missing and said support would be provided to the rescued crew and the families of the missing. [ 5 , 8 , 13 , 16 , 19 , 21 , 24 , 25 ]
Why it matters
Two people are still unaccounted for and the coast guard says the search will continue overnight and that it will question the rescued crew to establish how the vessel went over. Officials disclosed that the departure report listed eight crew while 11 were aboard, a gap the coast guard is investigating as a possible false declaration, and the case involves migrant crew from Indonesia and Vietnam. Prime Minister Han Seong-suk, two ministers and the Jeju governor have each ordered resources committed to the search.
Key facts
- A 29-tonne fishing vessel registered in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, capsized at about 03:04 on October 5 about 65 kilometres northwest of Chagwido, off Jeju, with 11 people aboard, the coast guard said. [ 3 , 7 , 11 , 16 , 25 , 28 , 37 ]
- Nine crew — eight Indonesians and one Vietnamese — were rescued; the 58-year-old Korean captain and one Indonesian crew member are missing, according to the coast guard. [ 7 , 11 , 16 , 25 , 28 , 37 ]
- The vessel's departure report listed eight crew, but 11 were actually aboard, the coast guard said. [ 7 , 11 , 16 , 19 , 25 , 28 , 34 , 37 ]
- The rescued crew complained of hypothermia but were found to be in no serious health trouble. [ 7 , 11 , 16 , 25 , 28 , 37 ]
- The rescued nine landed at Hallim Port in Jeju at about 11:40 on October 5 aboard the 70-tonne vessel Hwanggeum-ho. [ 25 , 37 ]
- The vessel left Samcheonpo Port in Sacheon at about 08:50 on October 2 for a yellow corvina fishing trip, according to the coast guard and local outlets. [ 16 , 27 , 30 , 34 , 37 ]
- The coast guard moved from a daytime search involving 17 ships and four aircraft, with two attempts to enter the hull underwater, to a night search with seven ships, two aircraft and 110 flares. [ 26 , 27 , 28 , 34 , 37 ]
- Prime Minister Han Seong-suk, Interior Minister Yoon Ho-jung and Oceans Minister Hwang Jong-woo each ordered all available resources to be committed to the rescue. [ 5 , 8 , 13 , 14 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A 29-tonne fishing vessel registered in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, capsized at about 03:04 on October 5 about 65 kilometres northwest of Chagwido, off Jeju, with 11 people aboard. [ 3 , 7 , 11 , 16 , 25 , 28 , 37 , 38 ]
- Nine people were rescued and two remain missing, including the Korean captain. [ 3 , 7 , 11 , 16 , 25 , 28 , 37 ]
- The rescued nine are eight Indonesian and one Vietnamese crew member. [ 7 , 11 , 16 , 19 , 25 , 28 , 37 ]
- The departure report listed eight crew, while 11 were actually aboard, according to the coast guard. [ 7 , 11 , 16 , 19 , 25 , 28 , 34 , 37 ]
- The rescued crew complained of hypothermia but were reported to be in no serious health trouble. [ 7 , 11 , 16 , 17 , 25 , 28 , 37 ]
- The vessel departed Samcheonpo Port in Sacheon at about 08:50 on October 2. [ 16 , 27 , 30 , 34 , 37 ]
- The nine rescued crew members landed at Hallim Port in Jeju at about 11:40 on October 5, and health checks found them well. [ 25 , 37 ]
- Prime Minister Han Seong-suk ordered the oceans ministry and the coast guard to mobilise all available ships, underwater rescue divers and equipment to save lives first, her office said. [ 5 , 11 , 14 , 17 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]
- Coast guard ships, a navy vessel, a national fisheries guidance ship and private fishing boats are taking part in the search. [ 7 , 11 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 34 , 37 ]
Still unclear
- The type of the fishing vessel Yonhap's first report described it as a 29-tonne near-shore longline vessel; later Newsis reports call it a near-shore gillnet boat that fishes for yellow corvina, and the Chosun Ilbo calls it a yellow corvina boat.
- The weather and sea state at the accident site Yonhap reported a northwest wind of 8 to 10 metres per second and 1.5-metre waves, while Newsis, Kyunghyang Shinmun and others reported 12 to 14 metres per second and waves above 2 metres; later reports give 10 to 12 metres per second and waves of 2 to 2.5 metres.
- The exact position of the capsizing Most outlets cite about 65 kilometres northwest of Chagwido; reports on the prime minister's instruction cite about 33 nautical miles west of Chagwido, and one on the oceans minister cites about 35 nautical miles west.
- How many coast guard patrol ships and aircraft were committed Newsis reports range from nine patrol ships and three aircraft initially to 11 patrol ships with 17 ships in total and three aircraft, and later to 17 ships and four aircraft; Dong-A Ilbo also reports four aircraft.
- Who is the Jeju governor Hankook Ilbo, Newsis and Yonhap name Wi Seong-gon as Jeju governor and quote his instructions, while a Maeil Business report names Oh Young-hoon as the governor visiting the scene.
- The age of the missing Indonesian crew member Newsis says he is 27; Newsis, CBS NoCut News and the Chosun Ilbo elsewhere describe him only as in his 20s.
- The cause of the capsizing No document states a cause. The coast guard says it is questioning the rescued crew, and the Chosun Ilbo alone reports crew statements that the vessel lost its balance while hauling in nets.
- Whether the crew list was falsely declared Newsis reports that the coast guard confirmed circumstances suggesting a false crew-list declaration and is investigating the discrepancy; no other outlet reports a confirmed finding, and no charges have been stated.
- Whether the vessel was fishing as part of a fleet Newsis reports that fleet composition is not a separately reported item, so it is not confirmed whether other vessels were fishing together with the Seongjin-ho.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The No. 7 Seongjin-ho leaves Samcheonpo Port in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, for a yellow corvina trip of about ten days, with eight crew declared at departure. [ 16 , 27 , 30 , 34 , 37 ]
- A report reaches the Mokpo fisheries safety office that a 29-tonne fishing vessel has capsized about 65 kilometres northwest of Chagwido, off Jeju; the report comes from a nearby fishing boat, not from the vessel itself. [ 3 , 7 , 11 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 34 , 37 ]
- Prime Minister Han Seong-suk is briefed and issues an emergency instruction to mobilise all available ships, divers and equipment for the rescue, her office says. [ 5 , 20 ]
- A coast guard helicopter arrives and searches the capsized hull, detecting no signals from the missing. [ 7 , 11 , 16 , 37 ]
- The national fisheries guidance ship Mugunghwa 19 arrives and joins the search of nearby waters. [ 7 , 11 , 16 , 37 ]
- Yonhap reports nine rescued and two missing, citing the coast guard. [ 3 ]
- Interior Minister Yoon Ho-jung orders all available equipment and personnel to be committed and warns against a secondary accident. [ 8 ]
- Oceans Minister Hwang Jong-woo instructs the coast guard and fisheries management bodies to commit the maximum rescue resources. [ 13 ]
- Jeju Governor Wi Seong-gon visits the on-site situation room at the Hallim fishing vessel owners' association office and orders the search to be pushed with all resources. [ 19 ]
- The nine rescued crew land at Hallim Port aboard the Hwanggeum-ho, about eight hours after the capsizing; health checks find them well. [ 25 , 37 ]
- At the accident site the wind is a northeast 12 to 14 metres per second with waves of 2 to 2.5 metres, visibility about 8 kilometres, water temperature 24 degrees and depth about 80 metres. [ 37 ]
- After the daytime search of 17 ships and four aircraft finds no one, the coast guard begins an overnight search of an area about 37 kilometres by 37 kilometres with seven ships, two aircraft and 110 flares, to run until 06:00. [ 34 , 37 ]