In brief
At 6:51 a.m. on Saturday a 9.77‑ton charter fishing boat south of Yeongheung Island in the Yellow Sea caught fire. All 22 crew were rescued by the Korean Coast Guard, with two taken to hospital for smoke inhalation and two officers also treated. Investigators are examining witness reports that sparks came from the passenger cabin, but the exact cause remains unconfirmed.
A fishing vessel near Yeongheung Island in the Yellow Sea burst into flames at 6:51 a.m. on Saturday, prompting a Coast Guard response that rescued all 22 crew members from the 9.77‑ton charter boat.
The Coast Guard dispatched patrol and rescue boats after receiving a distress call, extinguished the blaze and brought the vessel’s occupants to safety. All crew members were accounted for.
Two crew members, including the boat’s skipper, were treated for smoke inhalation and transported to a nearby hospital; two Coast Guard officers also inhaled smoke and were slated for medical care.
Investigation underway
Coast Guard officials say they will investigate the exact cause of the fire. Witness statements suggest that sparks and smoke originated in the passenger cabin, but the incident’s ignition point has yet to be confirmed.
