Marine

25.12, sinking, fatalities

South Korea: fourteen seamen were missing after combined chemical and oil tanker Eastern Bright (1715 gt, built 1992) sank in rough seas off South Korea’s south coast. The Eastern Bright sank off the port city of Yosu after sending an emergency distress call. One crew member was rescued immediately after the incident, despite five days of searching by the South Korean Coast Guard, there was no sign of the other 14 seamen. Coast Guard officials believe bad weather off the coast of the South Jeolla Province may have led to the shipwreck. The Coast Guard found 18 drum cans and several lifejackets and boats believed to be from the vessel. An object of the shape and size matching the missing vessel was detected by a Korean navy boat equipped with sonar equipment.