Jeju: Authorities have persisted with their nighttime search efforts to locate 12 missing crew members from a fishing boat that sank the previous day, as announced by the coast guard. The search operation entered its second day on Saturday, reflecting the urgency and importance of the mission.According to Yonhap News Agency, 47 ships and five aircraft have been deployed by the Jeju Coast Guard to aid in the nighttime search for the missing crew. The vessel, named Geumseong and weighing 129 tons, was carrying 27 crew members-comprising 16 South Koreans and 11 Indonesians-when distress signals were sent out, indicating the boat was sinking 24 kilometers off Jeju's Biyang Island.Out of the 27 crew members, 15 were rescued by a nearby vessel. However, two of the rescued, both South Koreans, were found in a state of cardiac arrest and subsequently transported to nearby hospitals, where they were later pronounced dead.In an effort to enhance the search operation, aircraft will be used to drop 222 illumination flares, providing necessary visibility for the ongoing mission. The coast guard has also stated that the fishing boat is believed to be upright on the seafloor, suggesting it did not overturn during the sinking.
- October 12, 2026
