Busan tugboat capsizes, leaving six crew members missing

A 286-ton tugboat capsized and sank off the coast of Busan, South Korea, on Wednesday afternoon, leaving six crew members missing. The vessel was reportedly towing a large container ship that had experienced engine failure when the accident occurred near Oryukdo.

The crew consisted of eight members: six South Koreans and two Indonesians. One Indonesian crew member was rescued by a passing merchant vessel, while a South Korean crew member was recovered unconscious but later died at a hospital. As of the latest reports, six individuals remain missing.

Search and rescue operations have been deployed extensively, involving approximately 19 vessels from the Coast Guard, Navy, and local fire departments, as well as multiple aircraft. Rescuers have utilized night flares and unmanned underwater vehicles to scan the area, where the vessel lies at a depth of approximately 87 meters. High waves and strong currents have hampered the efficiency of the search efforts. President Lee Jae Myung has ordered authorities to mobilize all available resources to prioritize life-saving operations.