MOKPO, South Korea: South Korea's coast guard said it rescued all 163 people aboard a ferry that hit a large rock in waters off the country's southwestern coast on Sunday (Mar 24), according to an Associate Press report.

At least six people suffered mild injuries from the accident, which happened near Shinan county, 400km south of Seoul.

Advertisement

Advertisement

The liner with 158 passengers and five crew were taken to shore on coast guard vessels and civilian fishing boats.

A Coast Guard official was quoted by AP as saying it appeared that the ferry hit the rock as it was trying to avoid a fishing boat while travelling in foggy waters.

Another coast guard official, from the nearby port of Mokpo, said his department planned to question the ferry’s captain and crew members to investigate the cause of the crash.

Tests from alcohol detectors showed that none of them had been drinking before the accident, he reportedly said.



Advertisement

Advertisement

The accident happened not far from where a ferry, the MV Sewol, sank and killed more than 300 people in 2014, triggering a national outpouring of grief and soul-searching over lax safety standards.

</s>South Korea's coastguard said it rescued all 163 people from a ferry that hit a large rock in waters off the country's southwestern coast, adding that at least six people sustained minor injuries in the incident.

A coastguard official told the Associated Press news agency that the ferry's 158 passengers and five crew members were being taken to shore on four coastguard vessels and a number of civilian fishing boats.

The rescue operation went smoothly because the ferry wasn't flooded and didn't lose its balance despite the crash off islands in Sinan County, he said.

The coastguard initially said the ferry was carrying 187 passengers, but later revised the number to 158.

The official said it appeared the ferry hit the rock while trying to avoid a fishing boat while traveling in foggy waters.

Rescue workers treated six people for minor injuries caused from the shock of the crash, which left the ferry's front pushed atop the rock, he said.

Another coastguard official, from the nearby port of Mokpo, said his department planned to question the ferry's captain and crew members to investigate the cause of the crash.

Tests from alcohol detectors showed that none of them had been drinking before the accident, he said. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity, citing office rules.

The area is not far from where a ferry sank and killed more than 300 people in 2014, triggering a national outpouring of grief and soul-searching over lax safety standards.</s>Share this article with Google Plus

Coastguards in South Korea saved 163 people from a ferry after it crashed into a rock in thick fog.

The accident happened when the ship tried to avoid colliding with a fishing boat off South Korea’s south western coast.

The coastguard said: ‘It seems that the ferry’s front grazed the rock after it changed directions to avoid a fishing boat passing by.’

Sky News reported four coastguard vessels and merchant ships headed to the stricken ferry to help the rescue operation.

The ferry’s captain and crew members will be questioned as part of the investigation into what caused the crash.

However, the crew and captain all passed alcohol tests.

In 2014 near the same spot the MV Sewol sunk carrying 476 people, killing 300 people mostly schoolchildren.

The maritime disaster sparked an unprecedented outpouring of grief and regulations were tightened up as a result.

MORE: Labour MPs jump to Jeremy Corbyn’s defence over anti-Semitic mural

MORE: Cockroach on pizza leads to vile discovery takeaway is overrun with insects</s>South Korea’s coast guard says it is trying to rescue 192 people from a ferry that hit a rock in waters off the country’s south-western coast.

An official from the Korea Coast Guard says the prospects of rescue are good because the ferry is not showing signs of flooding or losing balance despite Sunday’s crash.

The official said four coast guard vessels and nearby civilian vessels are approaching the ferry for the rescue operation.

The area is not far from where a ferry sank and killed more than 300 people in 2014, triggering a national outpouring of grief and soul-searching over lax safety standards.</s>South Korea's coastguard has rescued 163 people who were trapped on board a ferry that hit a rock during foggy weather.

At least six people were injured in the incident which happened as the ship tried to avoid colliding with a fishing boat.

"It seems that the ferry's front grazed the rock after it changed directions to avoid a fishing boat passing by," said a coastguard official.

The spokesperson added that four coastguard vessels and nearby civilian ships headed to the ferry for the rescue operation.

The official added the ferry wasn't showing signs of flooding or losing balance despite Sunday's crash.

Another coastguard official, from the nearby port of Mokpo, said his department planned to question the ferry's captain and crew members as part of the investigation into what caused the crash.

Tests from alcohol detectors showed none of them had been drinking before the accident, he said.

The coastguard initially said the ferry was carrying 187 passengers, but later revised the number to 158.

The ship crashed in waters off South Korea's southwestern coast, close to where more than 300 people died in 2014 when a ferry sank.

The MV Sewol was carrying 476 people, most of whom were secondary school pupils. The incident triggering a national outpouring of grief and scrutiny over lax safety standards.

A month after the disaster, the owner of the ferry operator, disappeared. He was later found dead in a field.

No cause of death has been confirmed, but foul play has been ruled out.</s>SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s coast guard says it’s trying to rescue 192 people from ferry that hit a rock off country’s southwest coast.</s>South Korea’s coast guard said it rescued all 163 people from a ferry that hit a rock in waters off the country’s south-western coast.

South Korea’s coast guard said it rescued all 163 people from a ferry that hit a rock in waters off the country’s south-western coast.

A coast guard official said the ferry’s 158 passengers and five crew members were being taken to shore on four coast guard vessels and a number of civilian fishing boats.

The rescue operation went smoothly because the ferry was not flooded and did not lose its balance despite the crash off islands in Sinan County, he said. The coast guard initially said the ferry was carrying 187 passengers, but later revised the number to 158.

The official said it appeared the ferry hit the rock while trying to avoid a fishing boat while travelling in foggy waters. Rescue workers treated six people for minor injuries caused from the shock of the crash, which left the ferry’s front pushed atop the rock, he said.

Another coast guard official, from the nearby port of Mokpo, said his department planned to question the ferry’s captain and crew members to investigate the cause of the crash. Tests from alcohol detectors showed that none of them had been drinking before the accident, he said.

The area is not far from where a ferry sank and killed more than 300 people in 2014, triggering a national outpouring of grief and soul-searching over lax safety standards.</s>South Korea's coast guard says it's trying to rescue 192 people from ferry that hit a rock off country's southwest coast

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea's coast guard says it's trying to rescue 192 people from ferry that hit a rock off country's southwest coast.</s>The crash occurred at 3.47pm local time near Shinan county, some 400km south of Seoul. At least six people sustained mild injuries, according to the South Korean Coast Guard. A spokesman for the Coast Guard said: “It seems that the ferry's front grazed the rock after it changed directions to avoid a fishing boat passing by.” 

 Coastguard and civilian vessels are making their way to the scene.

An official from the Korea Coast Guard said the prospects of a rescue is good because the ferry is not showing signs of flooding or losing balance despite Sunday’s crash. The official said four coast guard vessels and nearby civilian vessels are approaching the ferry for the rescue operation. The official spoke on condition of anonymity due to office rules. South Korea’s presidential spokesman Cheong Wa Dae said that the Government had opened an emergency centre to deal with the crash.

He also confirmed that a large scale rescue operation is underway to help the passengers. He said: “We’ve got a report that rescue operations are under way.” All of the 187 passengers and five crew members on the ferry were wearing life vests as they waited for the rescue workers. The passengers included tourists who had visited Hongdo Island, and were heading towards Mokpo, according to Yonhap news agency.

The area is not far from where a ferry sank and killed more than 300 people in 2014</s>The Latest: S. Korea rescues all 163 after ferry hits rock

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The Latest on a ferry accident in South Korea (all times local):

South Korea's coast guard says it rescued all 163 people from a ferry that hit a rock in waters off the country's southwestern coast.

A coast guard official says the ferry's 158 passengers and five crew members are being taken to shore on four coast guard vessels and a number of civilian fishing boats. He says the rescue operation went smoothly because the ferry wasn't flooded and didn't lose its balance despite the crash off islands in Sinan County.

He says six people sustained minor injuries in the accident Sunday.

The coast guard initially said the ferry was carrying 187 passengers, but later revised the number to 158.

The official says it appeared the ferry hit the rock while trying to avoid a fishing boat while traveling in foggy waters.

South Korea's coast guard says it is trying to rescue 192 people from a ferry that hit a rock in waters off the country's southwestern coast.

An official from the Korea Coast Guard says the prospects of rescue are good because the ferry isn't showing signs of flooding or losing balance despite Sunday's crash.

The official says four coast guard vessels and nearby civilian vessels are approaching the ferry for the rescue operation.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity, citing office rules.

The area is not far from where a ferry sank and killed more than 300 people in 2014, triggering a national outpouring of grief and soul-searching over lax safety standards.
A passenger ferry grounds off the coast of South Korea, injuring at least six people with The South Korean Coastguard evacuating all 163 on board.