SEOUL, September 2 (AJP) - A tugboat carrying eight crew members capsized off the southern port city of Busan on Wednesday, leaving six people missing, according to coast guards.
The 286-ton boat overturned at about 1:29 p.m. in waters about 9 kilometers southeast of Oryukdo islets.
Of the crew including six South Koreans and two foreign nationals, one crew member was rescued by a cargo ship passing nearby, while another was found unconscious.
Strong currents and high waves of 1 to 1.5 meters, along with northwesterly winds of 4 to 6 meters per second, were hampering search and rescue efforts.
President Lee Jae Myung ordered officials to use all available resources to rescue the missing crew members.
Prime Minister Han Seong-sook also called on the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Defense Ministry and the Busan city government to provide personnel and equipment to support the rescue operation.
The 286-ton boat overturned at about 1:29 p.m. in waters about 9 kilometers southeast of Oryukdo islets.
Of the crew including six South Koreans and two foreign nationals, one crew member was rescued by a cargo ship passing nearby, while another was found unconscious.
Strong currents and high waves of 1 to 1.5 meters, along with northwesterly winds of 4 to 6 meters per second, were hampering search and rescue efforts.
President Lee Jae Myung ordered officials to use all available resources to rescue the missing crew members.
Prime Minister Han Seong-sook also called on the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Defense Ministry and the Busan city government to provide personnel and equipment to support the rescue operation.
AJP Takeaways
• A 286 ton tugboat carrying eight crew members capsized off Busan, leaving six people missing.
• One crew member was rescued and another was found unconscious as strong currents and high waves hampered the search.
• President Lee Jae Myung ordered authorities to use all available resources in the rescue operation.
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