2 dead, 12 missing after fishing boat sinks off South Korea

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – At least two people were confirmed dead while the search for 12 others was going on after a fishing boat sank off South Korea on Friday.

The incident happened in waters, some 24 km (14.9 miles) off the shores of South Korea’s southern island of Jeju, Seoul-based Yonhap News reported.

South Korean Coast Guard said the 129-ton Geumseong boat was carrying 27 crew members, including 16 South Koreans and 11 foreigners.

It said the boat made a distress call at 4.33 a.m. (1933GMT, Thursday) and rescue operation was launched during which 15 people were rescued.

Ten among the 12 missing are South Koreans, while two of the 15 rescued people died at a health facility.