Chinese Boat Capsizes off South Korea
South Korean maritime police on Wednesday withdrew divers after they failed to find at least five people believed to be trapped inside a Chinese fishing boat that capsized near a small southwestern island off South Korea on Wednesday, reports AP.
Four people were rescued by nearby Chinese fishing boats, but another man pulled by South Korean divers was feared to be dead, according to an official from the Ministry of Public Safety and Security.
The boat keeled over while being towed by another Chinese fishing boat after developing engine problems, a spokeswoman of the Mokpo Coastguard said.
The accident occurred early today, some 85 kilometres (52 miles) northwest of Gageo Island in Shinan County.
Seven boats from the South Korean coastguard and its navy, backed by four aircraft, were combing the area.
It was unclear whether Chinese coastguard officials would continue search and rescue efforts or tow the boat away, a ministry official was quoted as saying.