2 vessels upended along South Korea's coast

ISTANBUL

Two boats with a combined crew of two dozen -- including Chinese, South Korean, and Indonesian nationals -- faced mishaps in or near South Korean waters on Wednesday.

At least one crew member was dead while two were still missing after a Chinese fishing boat sank close to South Korean waters, according to the South Korean Coast Guard.

Twelve of the ship’s 15 crew members were reportedly rescued by the coast guard, including three who were unconscious.

During search and rescue operations, the South Korean Coast Guard found “one crew member dead in the fishing nets of the sunken ship” while the search for the other two is ongoing.

The coast guard said the 239-ton vessel sank late Tuesday or early Wednesday some 124 kilometers (77 miles) southwest of the city of Gunsan’s Eocheong Island.

Four patrol ships and two aircraft are taking part in search and rescue operations at the accident scene along with two Chinese fishing boats.

South Korean officials told Yonhap News that the Chinese vessel "was fishing in the South Korean exclusive economic zone after getting permission."

In another mishap, reported in the afternoon (local time), the country’s coast guard said a fishing vessel carrying nine crewmen -- four Chinese, two Indonesian, and three South Korean ­-- capsized in waters off the country's easternmost disputed islets of Dokdo.

After the 72-ton vessel capsized, all nine crew members remain missing.

Search and rescue operations are facing difficulty due to high waves, South Korean officials said.

South Korea calls the islets -- located in the Sea of Japan -- Dokdo-ri, but Japan challenges their sovereignty.