Mokpo: All 267 passengers and crew were safely rescued hours after their ferry ran aground off South Korea’s southwestern coast this week, the Coast Guard said Thursday, with investigators giving weight to errors in navigation as a potential cause of the accident.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the 26,546-ton Queen Jenuvia II, carrying 246 passengers and 21 crew members, was reported to have run aground at the uninhabited islet of Jok near Jangsan Island off the coast of Sinan County, 366 kilometers south of Seoul, at around 8:17 p.m. Wednesday. The ferry was en route to the port city of Mokpo after departing from the southern island of Jeju.
Half of the vessel’s hull had moved onto Jok Islet. Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported, although 27 people experienced pain due to the shock when the vessel ran aground. All aboard were safely transported to a nearby port via Coast Guard and other vessels.
The rescue operation saw the deployment of 17 patrol ships, four coastal rescue vessels, a plane, and special rescue personnel by the Coast Guard. Maritime authorities suspect human error led to the incident. An official from the Mokpo Coast Guard confirmed that the vessel veered off its regular course. Korea Coast Guard Commissioner Kim Yong-jin also pointed to potential errors by the captain or navigator as the cause, though neither were under the influence at the time.
The Coast Guard received the first distress call at 8:16 p.m., just a minute before the ship ran aground, from a person tentatively identified as a navigator. An investigation team has been established to determine the cause, examining data recorders and surveillance cameras on the vessel and questioning crew members.
Passengers documented the incident on social media, with one describing a loud bang and the ship tilting, followed by an announcement to wear life jackets. Children, pregnant women, and older adults were evacuated first, while others waited their turn on deck.
President Lee Jae Myung, who was visiting the United Arab Emirates, ordered immediate rescue efforts and real-time updates on operations to prevent any loss of life and reassure the public.