Nine missing after fishing boat capsizes

SEOUL: Rescue workers were searching by sea and air for nine people missing after a fishing boat capsized in waters off South Korea’s south-western coast, authorities said yesterday.

The 24-ton vessel overturned in waters off the coast of Sinan county late on Saturday night, the interior ministry said.

Three crew members were rescued by a nearby boat, but nine others – including two foreigners – remained missing, the ministry added.

More than a dozen vessels and three aircraft from the coastguard and the navy are searching for them.

Most of the crew are believed to have left the capsized boat, Interior Minister Lee Sang-min said. President Yoon Suk-yeol ordered the mobilisation of “all available resources” to widen the search area.