Chinese Fishing Boat Capsizes in West Sea International Waters: 8 Rescued, 3 Missing

Overall Incident Response to Be Handed Over to Chinese Coast Guard

Chinese fishing boat capsized in the West Sea international waters. Provided by Mokpo Coast Guard

Three people are missing after a Chinese fishing boat capsized in international waters of the West Sea, and the Coast Guard is currently conducting search operations.

The Mokpo Coast Guard announced that at approximately 6:50 a.m. on November 9, a 98-ton Chinese fishing vessel, referred to as Vessel A, with 11 crew members on board, capsized in international waters about 81 kilometers west of Gageodo in Sinan County. The Coast Guard stated that they are making every effort to recover the vessel and search for the missing individuals.

Of the 11 crew members, six were initially rescued by another Chinese fishing boat, and two more were subsequently rescued from the sea by a Coast Guard patrol vessel that arrived later. The remaining three crew members are still missing, and the Coast Guard and other agencies are continuing their search efforts.

The six crew members who were first rescued are reportedly in relatively good health, but the two who were rescued later were found in cardiac arrest.

The Coast Guard has deployed two large patrol vessels, three aircraft, and the West Sea Special Rescue Team to the site. The Navy and the Fisheries Management Service have also dispatched nearby units to support the rescue and search operations.

In case the missing crew members were trapped inside the capsized Vessel A, the Coast Guard conducted a percussion test on the hull to check for signs of life. However, there were reportedly no significant signs of survival detected inside the vessel.

At the accident site, waves are currently about 2 to 2.5 meters high, and winds are blowing at speeds exceeding 10 meters per second.

Meanwhile, the Coast Guard is expanding the search area. Since the accident occurred in international waters, all rescued crew members and the overall handling of the incident will be handed over to the Chinese Coast Guard. International waters refer to areas of the sea that do not fall under the sovereignty of any nation and are open for use by all countries, allowing freedom of navigation, fishing, and research.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.