Fire hits Yeosu trawler southwest of Jeju's Marado island; all seven crew unharmed
In short
A fire broke out at about 8:37 a.m. on October 8 on a 40-ton Yeosu-registered trawler about 41 km southwest of Marado island off Jeju, according to the Jeju Coast Guard. The crew put out the initial fire themselves, the coast guard dealt with continuing smoke and remaining fire in the engine room, and all seven people aboard were unharmed. The vessel was then towed toward Gukdong port in Yeosu.
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A fire broke out on a 40-ton trawler registered in Yeosu, South Jeolla province, in waters about 41 km southwest of Marado island off Jeju at about 8:37 a.m. on October 8, the Jeju Coast Guard said, according to local outlets. No one was hurt, outlets including Yonhap, Chosun Ilbo and Kyunghyang Shinmun reported. Seoul Shinmun and Kyunghyang Shinmun said seven people, including the captain, were aboard. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
According to the captain's account reported by Seoul Shinmun, smoke came from the engine room while the crew were preparing to cast nets, and the crew used the vessel's own fire extinguishers to tackle it. Kukmin Ilbo and Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that the crew put out the fire before coast guard vessels arrived, but smoke continued to rise from the boat. [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]
After receiving the report, the coast guard sent patrol vessels and a rescue team and asked nearby fishing boats for help. Seoul Shinmun reported that at about 9:37 a.m. the coast guard put rescue crew from a vessel and members of the Jeju special rescue team aboard the trawler, where they used drainage pumps and carbon dioxide extinguishers to check the engine room and remove possible sources of fire. [ 3 , 5 ]
All seven crew members were wearing life jackets, and a breathalyser test on the captain found nothing abnormal, Seoul Shinmun and Kyunghyang Shinmun reported. Accounts of the crew's position differ: Kukmin Ilbo, in an earlier report, said the crew were waiting in life jackets and would abandon ship if the situation worsened, while Kyunghyang Shinmun said all seven had safely evacuated. [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]
Once the remaining fire and possible fire sources in the engine room had been dealt with, the coast guard arranged for fleet vessel B to tow the trawler toward Gukdong port in Yeosu from 11:37 a.m., Seoul Shinmun reported, adding that it was expected to arrive between 3 and 4 p.m. Kim Young-seup (김영습), head of the Jeju Coast Guard's guard and rescue division, said the fire could have led to a major accident but quick initial firefighting prevented casualties, and urged people working at sea to check for fuel leaks and the condition of wiring and terminals and to keep engine areas clean. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The incident ended without casualties, which the coast guard attributed to quick initial firefighting by the crew. The coast guard used the case to urge people working at sea to check for fuel leaks, wiring and terminals and to keep engine areas clean.
Key facts
- The fire was reported at about 8:37 a.m. on October 8, about 41 km southwest of Marado island, Seogwipo, Jeju. [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]
- The vessel was a 40-ton trawler registered in Yeosu, South Jeolla province, identified only as A. [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]
- Seven people, including the captain, were aboard; none was hurt. [ 3 , 5 ]
- According to the captain, smoke came from the engine room while the crew were preparing to cast nets. [ 3 ]
- The crew put out the initial fire themselves, but smoke continued. [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]
- All crew members were wearing life jackets, and a breathalyser test on the captain found nothing abnormal. [ 3 , 5 ]
- From 11:37 a.m., fleet vessel B towed the trawler toward Gukdong port in Yeosu, where it was expected to arrive between 3 and 4 p.m. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A fire broke out on a 40-ton Yeosu-registered trawler about 41 km southwest of Marado at about 8:37 a.m. on October 8. [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]
- No one was hurt. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Seven people were aboard. [ 3 , 5 ]
- The crew put out the initial fire before coast guard vessels arrived, but smoke continued. [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]
- The coast guard sent rescue units and asked nearby fishing boats for help. [ 3 , 5 ]
- The crew were wearing life jackets and the captain's breathalyser test showed nothing abnormal. [ 3 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the crew left the vessel. Kukmin Ilbo reported the crew were waiting in life jackets with evacuation planned if the situation worsened, while Kyunghyang Shinmun reported all seven had safely evacuated; Seoul Shinmun does not mention an evacuation.
- The cause of the fire. Seoul Shinmun cites the captain as saying smoke came from the engine room, but no outlet reports what started the fire.
- The towing operation and expected arrival in Yeosu. Only Seoul Shinmun reports the towing by fleet vessel B and the expected 3-4 p.m. arrival at Gukdong port.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Fire reported on trawler A about 41 km southwest of Marado. [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]
- Coast guard puts vessel rescue crew and Jeju special rescue team members aboard the trawler. [ 3 ]
- Yonhap reports the fire and that no one was hurt. [ 4 ]
- Fleet vessel B begins towing the trawler toward Gukdong port in Yeosu. [ 3 ]
- Trawler expected to reach Gukdong port between 3 and 4 p.m. [ 3 ]