Jindo: Rescuers in South Korea have successfully saved all 267 individuals after a passenger ferry ran aground near the southwestern tip of the peninsula. The 26,000-tonne vessel, en route from Jeju Island to Mokpo port, struck a small rocky island close to Jindo Island. Among those on board were 246 passengers and 21 crew members.
According to Deutsche Welle, the coast guard managed to rescue everyone on the ship by deploying approximately 20 vessels and a plane. Despite the successful rescue, five passengers reportedly sustained injuries due to the impact of the grounding. The Coast Guard has indicated that human error might have been a factor in the incident, although a comprehensive investigation is still in progress, as stated by Commissioner General Kim Yong-jin.
In light of the situation, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung demanded real-time updates on the rescue mission. President Lee was engaged in a state visit to the United Arab Emirates for discussions with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan when the incident occurred.
Jeju Island, located about 80 kilometers south of the Korean Peninsula, is a prominent holiday spot for South Koreans, known for the Hallasan volcano and its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The grounding site is near the location where the Sewol ferry tragedy occurred in 2014, leading to over 300 casualties.