Three missing after Chinese fishing boat capsizes off South Korean coast; rescue work underway

Chinese vessel capsizes near Korea (Reuters)

A Chinese fishing vessel overturned near South Korea’s southwestern Gageo Island on Sunday, leaving three crew members missing and two others in cardiac arrest, South Korean Coast Guard officials confirmed.

According to Yonhap News Agency, a joint search operation is underway involving both South Korean and Chinese maritime authorities. The South Korean Coast Guard said rescue teams were dispatched immediately after receiving a distress call from the vessel, while the Chinese Coast Guard deployed ships to assist in locating the missing fishermen.

The incident occurred roughly 85 kilometres northwest of Gageo Island, in waters where Chinese boats have previously been found operating without authorisation, officials added.

Authorities continue to search the area as efforts intensify to find the missing crew and stabilise those rescued.