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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
SEOUL, November 20 (Xinhua) — All 267 people on board a ferry that ran aground off the west coast of the Republic of Korea (ROK) have been rescued on Wednesday, the country's coast guard announced.
The rescue operation concluded at 11:27 PM local time. Three people sustained minor injuries.
21 crew members remained on board, and the rescued passengers will be taken to the city of Mokpo in southwestern South Korea.
At around 8:17 p.m. local time, the coast guard received a report that the 26,546-ton ferry had run aground near an island in Sinan County, 310 kilometers southwest of Seoul.
The ferry was traveling from the resort island of Jeju to Mokpo. The vessel struck an underwater rock while approaching the island. According to the Renhap News Agency, a hole was discovered in the ferry's bow, but it did not sink.
Some passengers posted about the situation on social media in real time. They reported that the ship tilted with a loud thud, after which passengers were told to don life jackets and move to the upper deck.
The Coast Guard mobilized 17 patrol vessels, four rescue boats, one aircraft and a special rescue team.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, currently on a state visit to the United Arab Emirates, ordered a swift response to the disaster to ensure there are no casualties and to publicly report on the progress of rescue efforts in real time.
Prime Minister Kim Min-seok ordered the coast guard and relevant authorities to immediately deploy all available vessels and equipment to quickly and safely rescue all passengers. –0–
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