9 missing as boat capsizes off waters in SW South Korea

ANKARA

At least nine people went missing after a fishing boat capsized in the waters off southwestern South Korea, local media reported on Sunday.

South Korean maritime authorities received a report at 11:19 p.m. local time Saturday (1419GMT) that a 24-ton fishing vessel had turned over in the waters of the uninhabited island of Daebichi located some 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the southwest county of Sinan, South Jeolla province.

Three of the total 12 fishermen onboard were rescued by a nearby ship, whereas nine others were unaccounted for despite a night-long search operation, Yonhap News Agency reported.

An extensive search operation involving ships, aircraft, and salvage units is underway, it added.