[Photo] 13 dead, 2 missing after fishing boat accident in West Sea

An accident that occurred when a refueling ship collided with a chartered fishing boat in the West Sea two miles south of the Yeongheung Bridge in Ongjin County, Incheon, early in the morning of Dec. 3 left 13 people dead and two others missing. The 9.77 ton fishing boat, which was carrying 20 passengers and two crew members, capsized after it was struck by a 336 ton refueling ship, just five minutes after leaving port at Jindu Harbor on Yeongheung Island. Three of the survivors were able to stay alive by taking refuge in an air pocket of the capsized boat, with one of them calling the Coast Guard from his cell phone.

Rescuers used a crane to recover the sunken vessel and are still searching for the captain, aged 70, and a 57-year-old passenger.