The death toll rises to 5… 5 still missing
Navy underwater unmanned detector redeployed to resume underwater search
Intensive search continues in 4 divided areas of the accident sea area
[Seoul=Newsis] Reporter Hwang Jun-seon – On the night of the 9th, flares illuminate the scene to search for the missing from the 22 Seokyeong-ho, which sank near Habaekdo, Samsan-myeon, Yeosu-si, Jeollanam-do. (Photo provided by Yeosu Coast Guard) 2025.02.09.
‘[Gwangju=Newsis] Reporter Park Ki-woong – The search for the remaining 5 missing persons from the 139-ton large trawler, Seokyeong-ho 22, which sank in the Jeonnam Yeosu sea, has entered its second day.’
‘According to the Yeosu Coast Guard, the search for the missing crew of Seokyeong-ho continued throughout the night.’
‘The Navy’s underwater unmanned detection vehicle (ROV), which was in operation until the previous night, was redeployed after sunrise to perform underwater search operations around the sunken hull located at a depth of 80 meters.’
‘To check for drifting missing persons, the Coast Guard is conducting a focused search in a 28 km by 19 km area divided into four sections centered around the accident point.’
‘Currently, 21 patrol vessels, 4 aircraft, 4 vessels from related organizations, 3 navy ships, and 15 private fishing boats are involved in the search.’
‘The sunken fishing boat was found about 370 meters southwest of the accident site, at a depth of 80 meters.’
‘Considering that the maximum depth in the accident area is about 80 meters, the Coast Guard estimates that the fishing boat is likely on the seabed.’
‘Korean crew member A (56), who was discovered and recovered from underwater about 19 meters from the accident fishing boat at 6:18 p.m. the previous day, was pronounced dead. No additional missing persons have been found since then.’
‘The remaining missing persons include 3 Korean crew members, 1 Indonesian, and 1 Vietnamese, totaling 5.’
‘Earlier, at 1:41 a.m. the previous day, the 139-ton trawler Seokyeong-ho (with a crew of 14, registered in Busan) sank 20 nautical miles (about 17 km) east of Habaekdo, Samsan-myeon, Yeosu-si. Among the 14, 5 Koreans, including the captain and crew, died, and 4 foreign crew members survived on a life raft. 5 are still unaccounted for.’
[Yeosu=Newsis] Reporter Park Ki-woong – At 1:41 a.m. on the 9th, a suspected sinking incident occurred 17 km east of Habaekdo, Yeosu-si, Jeollanam-do, and the Coast Guard is conducting a search operation. (Photo provided by the Yeosu Coast Guard) 2025.02.09.