Two Indonesian Crew Members Missing After Collision Off Busan Coast

Two Indonesian crew members of a fishing vessel went missing on Thursday after their boat capsized in waters off the southeastern port city of Busan, South Korea. The vessel overturned following a collision with a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carrier at 10:10 a.m. local time. According to maritime authorities, the 79-tonne fishing boat collided with the 992-tonne LPG carrier, throwing all eight crew members into the sea. Of the eight, two were South Korean nationals and six were Indonesian. The LPG carrier managed to rescue six people, but two Indonesian nationals remain unaccounted for. The missing Indonesian crew members are reported to be in their 30s. The Ulsan Coast Guard deployed patrol boats, helicopters, and other equipment to search the area of the accident. Search efforts are ongoing. One of the rescued crew members is reported to be in critical condition. No further details have been released regarding the identities of the missing victims or the hospitalised crew member. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung ordered the deployment of all available resources to rescue the missing victims and manage the aftermath of the accident. The order was issued after he received a brief explanation of the incident. Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung stated that President Lee issued the instruction immediately after receiving the report on the accident in the waters near Busan. The incident has drawn attention due to the involvement of six Indonesian crew members.