
(ECNS) -- The China Coast Guard (CCG) saved eight South Korean fishermen in the East China Sea on Tuesday, according to its official WeChat account on Thursday.
At 17:31 on Tuesday, the Second Direct Bureau of the China Coast Guard received an alert from higher authorities that a South Korean fishing vessel, 887 EOJIN, was in distress with its hull broken and in critical condition.
The bureau immediately dispatched the vessels to rush at full speed to the scene, while activating emergency protocols and mobilizing nearby ships for a joint rescue operation.
At 18:21, a Chinese vessel arrived at the scene and located the broken fishing vessel. The Chinese side promptly sent two boats to carry out the rescue. Then another Chinese vessel at the scene kept nearby vessels at a safe distance to prevent further accidents.
The fishing vessel had suffered hull damage and flooding due to a stern shaft failure, resulting in a complete power outage and significant water ingress, facing a risk of capsizing, said the CCG.
The CCG implemented a transfer rescue plan, successfully evacuating all eight trapped fishermen to safety. They were provided with drinking water, food, and other essentials, as well as health checks.
Currently, all individuals are safe and in good health, said the CCG.
It was reported that the fishing boat was a longliner that had been operating at sea for 20 days since its departure, the CCG said.
On Wednesday morning, the CCG successfully transferred the rescued fishermen to South Korea's Jeju Regional Coast Guard Ship 5002 at the incident location.
On the same day, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Governor Oh Young-hun visited the Consulate General of China in Jeju specifically to express gratitude to Consul General Chen Jianjun for the rescue.
(By Zhang Dongfang)