Three South Korean seamen have died in a capsized boat near Jeju Island. The 24-ton fishing boat with 14 people aboard overturned 87 kilometers southwest of Mara Island which is a part of Jeju. 

Two patrol vessels, weighing 5,000 tons and 3,000 tons, respectively, and Air Force helicopters have been mobilized for the rescue operation.

A coast guard-military joint rescue team rescued 13 of the ship's 14 sailors at the scene but three of them, including the ship's 61-year-old skipper surnamed Hwang were pronounced dead at a hospital in Jeju. The two other dead fishermen were identified only as 69-year-old Kang and 60-year-old Kim.

This is the second maritime accident in Jeju waters in less than a week. On Nov. 19, a 29-ton fishing boat with 12 aboard caught fire off the southern coast of Jeju, leaving one dead and 11 missing.

Maritime Business World