Seoul: A passenger ferry carrying 267 people ran aground off South Korea's southwestern coast, the Coast Guard reported, as patrol vessels were deployed to rescue those aboard. The accident occurred at around 8:17 p.m. near Jangsan Island in Sinan County, 366 kilometers south of Seoul.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the 26,546-ton Queen Jenuvia was en route to the port city of Mokpo after departing from the resort island of Jeju, carrying 246 passengers and 21 crew members. Five passengers reportedly suffered minor injuries from the impact of the grounding, but no fatalities have been reported.

A hole was found in the bow of the ship, but no flooding has been detected so far, the Coast Guard stated. The Coast Guard immediately dispatched patrol vessels to the site to ensure passenger safety and is currently transferring those aboard to a nearby pier.

President Lee Jae Myung ordered swift rescue efforts after being briefed on the accident during his visit to the United Arab Emirates. "Lee immediately instructed the relevant authorities to respond swiftly to prevent any loss of life and to release real-time updates on the rescue operations so that the public can be reassured," the presidential office said in a press notice.