SEOUL, September 4 (AJP) - Coastguards are still searching for six sailors who went missing after a tugboat capsized off the coast of Busan, but strong winds and worsening weather are hampering the rescue operation, officials said on Friday.
The 286-ton tugboat, carrying eight crew members including two Indonesians, capsized in waters about 9 kilometers southeast of Oryukdo islets at around 1:30 p.m. and sank completely about two hours later.
One Indonesian crew member was rescued by a nearby cargo ship, while another crew member was found unconscious and later died.
Authorities planned to deploy about a dozen vessels to search the waters where the missing crew members may have been carried by currents. They also planned to drop about 270 flares to support the nighttime search, but strong winds forced helicopters to suspend aerial operations. So far, no additional survivors have been found.
"Due to the bad weather, the search has been difficult. But we will do our utmost, using all available personnel and equipment to find the missing crew members," a Busan Coast Guard official said.
AJP Takeaways
• Six sailors remain missing after the 286-ton tugboat TNS Catcher capsized and sank off Busan on Sept. 2, 2026, about 9 kilometers southeast of the Oryukdo islets.
• Eight crew members were aboard, including two Indonesian nationals. One Indonesian crew member was rescued by a nearby cargo ship, while another crew member was found unconscious and later died.
• Strong winds and worsening weather are hampering the search, forcing helicopters to suspend aerial operations. Authorities planned to deploy about a dozen vessels and use around 270 illumination flares in the nighttime search.
The 286-ton tugboat, carrying eight crew members including two Indonesians, capsized in waters about 9 kilometers southeast of Oryukdo islets at around 1:30 p.m. and sank completely about two hours later.
One Indonesian crew member was rescued by a nearby cargo ship, while another crew member was found unconscious and later died.
Authorities planned to deploy about a dozen vessels to search the waters where the missing crew members may have been carried by currents. They also planned to drop about 270 flares to support the nighttime search, but strong winds forced helicopters to suspend aerial operations. So far, no additional survivors have been found.
"Due to the bad weather, the search has been difficult. But we will do our utmost, using all available personnel and equipment to find the missing crew members," a Busan Coast Guard official said.
AJP Takeaways
• Six sailors remain missing after the 286-ton tugboat TNS Catcher capsized and sank off Busan on Sept. 2, 2026, about 9 kilometers southeast of the Oryukdo islets.
• Eight crew members were aboard, including two Indonesian nationals. One Indonesian crew member was rescued by a nearby cargo ship, while another crew member was found unconscious and later died.
• Strong winds and worsening weather are hampering the search, forcing helicopters to suspend aerial operations. Authorities planned to deploy about a dozen vessels and use around 270 illumination flares in the nighttime search.
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