Seogwipo: Five crew members fell overboard from a merchant ship sailing off the southwest coast of Seogwipo on Jeju Island on Friday, and four have been rescued so far, officials said.

According to Yonhap News Agency, a report was filed at 4:47 p.m. that five crew members had fallen into the sea from the 8,580-ton cargo ship about 33 kilometers southwest of Seogwipo Port. Ten people were aboard the vessel.

The Coast Guard immediately dispatched rescue boats and a helicopter to the scene for rescue operations, and four have been rescued.

Authorities are also investigating the cause of the accident, officials said.