Fri Nov 08 09:41:54 UTC 2024: ## Fishing Boat Capsizes off Jeju Island, Leaving 2 Dead and 12 Missing
**Seoul, South Korea** – A fishing boat carrying 27 crew members capsized and sank off the coast of Jeju Island early Friday morning, leaving two dead and 12 others unaccounted for.
According to the Jeju Coast Guard, the 129-ton vessel, which departed Seogwipo port late Thursday, was fishing for mackerel when it encountered distress. A nearby fishing vessel received a distress signal at 4:30 a.m. and immediately launched rescue efforts, but the boat sank approximately 22 kilometers northwest of the island.
Rescue efforts were hampered by strong winds and waves of up to 2 meters. Despite these challenging conditions, 15 crew members were pulled from the water. Two were later declared dead after being brought to shore, while the remaining 13 sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
The deceased crew members have been confirmed to be South Korean nationals. Of the 13 survivors, nine are Indonesian nationals. Among the 12 missing, 10 are South Koreans.
A massive search and rescue operation is underway, with at least 30 vessels and 13 aircraft from the South Korean coast guard, police, fire service, and military actively involved. They are being assisted by 13 civilian vessels.
Divers have been dispatched to search the sunken vessel. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has called for all available resources to be deployed to find and rescue the missing crew members.
The Indonesian Embassy has been contacted to reach the families of the Indonesian crew members.
First Piper 