Two Missing After Fire Off Jeju Island Fishing Vessel; Eight Rescued

A fishing vessel fire occurred around 90 kilometers southwest of Chagi-do, off Jeju Island, on the 14th, authorities said. The 29-ton nearshore gillnet boat A, registered in Hanrim, was operating in the area when the fire broke out on the upper deck. The Jeju Coast Guard dispatched a helicopter and seven patrol ships to the scene as responders worked to extinguish the flames and search for any missing crew.

Eight crew members were rescued by nearby fishing boats that intervened in the situation. The rescued include two Korean sailors and six foreign sailors. Two Korean crew members are believed to still be inside the vessel, with officials noting they remained in the cabins.

Among those rescued, four foreign sailors were treated for smoke inhalation, with four Indonesian crew members reporting chest pains. They were transported to hospital by helicopter and firefighting aircraft around 12:57 local time.

Firefighting efforts relied largely on external hose lines, as entry into the vessel was hindered by flames and smoke. The coast guard said it would resume interior searches for the two missing sailors once the fire is fully suppressed.

The incident underscores the hazards faced by small, coastal fishing crews that operate in East Asia’s busy waters. The presence of Indonesian crew members on the vessel highlights the cross-border nature of labor on regional fishing fleets and the ongoing need for safety standards and training across national lines.

For U.S. readers, the development matters because the United States relies on seafood imports from the region and closely tracks maritime safety, rescue capabilities, and labor conditions in East Asia. Korea’s Coast Guard coordinates such search-and-rescue operations and maritime safety in the Jeju Strait, a key corridor for fishing and shipping that can affect regional supply chains and insurance, should incidents involving small vessels recur.

Chagi-do is a small island southwest of Jeju; waters around it are active with fishing and commercial traffic. The incident may spur renewed attention to safety regulations for small boats, including crew training and emergency evacuation readiness, with potential implications for insurers, vessel owners, and crews operating in nearby waters.