A South Korean passenger ferry, the Queen Jenuvia 2, has been successfully rescued with all 246 passengers onboard after the vessel ran aground on rocks off the southeast coast of the country. The Coast Guard confirmed that the ferry is currently stuck on a reef near Jangsan Island in Sinan County but posed no immediate risk of sinking or capsizing.
The grounding incident occurred on Wednesday evening near the uninhabited island of Jogdo. Local reports indicate that five individuals sustained minor injuries during the grounding, though no fatalities have been reported. It remains unclear how many of the 21 crew members are still aboard, as some are reportedly coordinating efforts with the Coast Guard.
In response to the situation, South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok has directed all available rescue vessels to assist in the evacuation of the ferry. A Coast Guard official stated that there is no flooding on the vessel and that efforts to transfer passengers to safety via patrol boats are ongoing. The Coast Guard plans to safely move the ferry ashore during high tide.
The Queen Jenuvia 2, a 26,000-ton ferry, was en route to Mokpo from the resort island of Jeju at the time of the incident. The location is significant, as it is near the site of the tragic 2014 Sewol ferry sinking, which resulted in the deaths of over 300 people, primarily school children on a trip. The wreck of the Sewol ferry was salvaged and brought to Mokpo nearly three years after the disaster.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2p2l4j8vjo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss