Key facts
- A tugboat capsized in waters off Busan, South Korea.
- One crew member was found dead.
- Six crew members are missing.
- President Lee Jae Myung has ordered the mobilization of all available resources for search and rescue operations.
A tugboat capsized in waters off Busan, South Korea, on Wednesday, resulting in one confirmed death and six individuals still missing. President Lee Jae Myung has directed authorities to deploy all available resources for the search and rescue operation.
The 286-ton vessel, carrying six South Korean and two Indonesian crew members, overturned at 1:29 p.m. after departing from Busan Port to tow a commercial ship. An Indonesian crew member in his 50s was rescued by the commercial vessel, while a South Korean crew member, also in his 50s, was found unconscious and later pronounced dead after being taken to the hospital.
The Coast Guard has dispatched 13 vessels for the search, with the Navy deploying additional ships and aircraft. The operation is facing challenges due to waves up to 1.5 meters high and wind speeds of up to 6 meters per second. The tugboat fully sank around 3:27 p.m.