By Aamir Latif
KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - South Korea’s Coast Guard continued an "around-the-clock" search and rescue operation for the second consecutive day Monday to find five missing crew members of a fishing trawler that sank in waters off the country's southern coast.
The death toll from the accident rose to five as rescuers retrieved the body of another crew member, Seoul-based Yonhap News reported.
With 14 crew members onboard, the 139-ton vessel was reported missing in waters about 17 kilometers (10.5 miles) east of the island of Habaek near Yeosu, located 316 kilometers (196 miles) south of Seoul early Sunday.
The deceased included the vessel's 66-year-old captain, while four crew members were rescued by the Coast Guard.
The search operation involves 21 patrol ships, four aircraft, three Navy ships and 15 private fishing boats.
Authorities were also carrying out search efforts around the sunken ship at 80 meters (262 feet) underwater using Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs).
The Coast Guard is looking into the cause of the accident as there was no distress call from the fishing trawler.