Seoul [South Korea], January 26: More than a dozen crew members have been pulled from the water during search and rescue operations after a cargo ship sank in the sea between South Korea and Japan Of the sailors rescued on Wednesday, at least five survived, a
South Korean coast guard spokesman said. Six died and seven of the presumed 22 people on board were still missing by late Wednesday. According to the spokesman, 13 crew members had been rescued. Earlier reports had said that 14 seafarers had been found in the water.
The condition of two people who were pulled out of the water by the Japanese coast guard was not known. Previously that number was three. The search was conducted by the coast guards of both countries as well as civilian vessels in the vicinity. The 6,551-ton cargo ship Jin Tian, which was registered in Hong Kong and had been carrying timber. It sent out a distress call in the morning about 150 kilometres south-east of South Korea's Jeju Island, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported. By the time the coast reached the ship's location, it had already sunk. (dpa)
Source: Qatar Tribune
