All 267 Passengers Rescued from Grounded Ferry off Shinan Coast
A ferry traveling from Mokpo to Heuksan Island ran aground off the coast of Shinan, South Jeolla Province, near Gageo Island. According to the Korea Coast Guard, there were 258 passengers and 9 crew members on board at the time of the accident. The Coast Guard dispatched patrol ships and helicopters to begin rescue operations, and rescued the passengers with the cooperation of nearby naval vessels and fishing boats. All 267 passengers were safely rescued by the Coast Guard and Navy. The rescued passengers were transported to nearby hospitals to check their health status, and so far, no serious injuries have been reported.
The President received a report on the accident and instructed relevant ministries to promptly carry out the rescue of people and the investigation of the cause of the accident. The Presidential Office stated that it would focus on securing the safety of passengers by mobilizing all available resources. Both ruling and opposition political parties issued statements regarding the accident and expressed condolences to the victims. They demanded that the government investigate the cause of the accident and prepare measures to prevent recurrence.
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced that it plans to strengthen navigation safety measures in the accident area and conduct intensive inspections of compliance with ship operation regulations. An official from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries urged, "Ships passing through the accident area should operate with special caution."
In the wake of this accident, a review of the overall ferry safety management system will be promoted. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries plans to prepare measures to improve the system for safe ferry operation with experts. The crashed ferry is a high-speed boat, which has been used as a major means of transportation for tourists and local residents. A shipping official said, "We have been conducting regular safety inspections, and the weather conditions were good at the time of the accident."
The Coast Guard is investigating the captain and crew of the crashed ship to determine the circumstances of the accident. They plan to review all possibilities, including ship defects and operational negligence. The Coast Guard is currently investigating the cause of the accident. The accident area has been prone to maritime accidents in the past, and the need to strengthen safety measures has been consistently raised. Local residents unanimously said, "The government should prepare stronger safety measures in light of this accident."
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has formed an emergency response team in connection with this accident and is focusing all its efforts on resolving the accident. It also plans to prepare support measures for the families of the victims. Coast Guard patrol ships and naval vessels are currently deployed in the accident area to take additional safety measures. The Coast Guard urged ships sailing around the accident area to operate safely.
