In brief
A 9.77‑ton charter fishing boat exploded into flames just 0.9 nautical miles south of Yeongheung Island in the Yellow Sea at 6:51 a.m. Coastal Rescue sprang into action following a distress call and salvaged every one of the 22 crew members. Two crew, including the skipper, and two Coast Guard officers were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation, and officials say “upon investigation the cause of the fire will be determined.”
A 9.77‑ton charter fishing vessel caught fire at 6:51 a.m. Saturday, 0.9 nautical miles south of Yeongheung Island in the Yellow Sea, according to the Korean Coast Guard and Yonhap news.
The Coast Guard received a distress signal and dispatched patrol and rescue boats that arrived on scene, extinguished the blaze and completed a full evacuation of the 22 crew, who were all rescued.
Officials said two crew members, including the skipper, were treated for smoke inhalation. Two Coast Guard officers also suffered smoke inhalation and were scheduled for medical care.
Both agencies plan to investigate the precise cause of the fire and assess the damage caused by sparks and smoke that reportedly originated in the boat’s passenger cabin.
Because the incident was confirmed by the Coast Guard and Yonhap and no conflicting accounts exist, the report remains unverified only in the sense that the investigation for the fire’s origin is pending.
