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At least two dead, one missing after Jeju fishing boat incident

Published: 02 Feb. 2025, 14:29 Updated: 02 Feb. 2025, 18:41

Two fishing boats are stranded near Tokkiseom island, Jeju City, on Feb. 1. [YONHAP]

At least two people were confirmed dead, and at least one remains missing, after two fishing boats were stranded in waters off Jeju Island on Saturday.

Two crew members were initially reported missing after the accident. The Jeju Coast Guard said it had discovered a body presumed to be one of two crew members missing off the western shores of Tokkiseom, a small island off the coast of Jeju City, around 4:50 p.m. Sunday.

The search mission for the two crew members has been ongoing near Tokkiseom since Saturday, despite strong winds and high waves.

The two fishing boats, weighing 32 tons and 29 tons, respectively, were stranded 500 meters (0.31 miles) off the coast of Gujwa-eup, Jeju. A total of 15 people were aboard the vessels.

Confirmed fatalities include the Korean captain of the 32-ton fishing boat and an Indonesian crew member of the 29-ton boat. Two more Indonesian crew members aboard the 32-ton vessel went missing.
The Coast Guard and military authorities mobilized 14 ships, seven aircraft and 552 personnel to focus all efforts on the search for the missing crew members.

Update, Feb. 2: Added details of discovery of body around 4:50 p.m.

BY KIM MIN-YOUNG [[email protected]]