Interior Minister Yoon Ho-jung ordered relevant agencies on the 2nd to deploy all available equipment and personnel for a swift rescue operation after a tugboat capsized in waters near Oryukdo Island off Busan.
Yoon instructed the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Korea Coast Guard, the Busan Metropolitan Government and the Nam-gu district office in Busan to immediately mobilize available resources to rescue those on board quickly and safely.
He also called for close monitoring of weather and sea conditions in the accident area to prevent secondary accidents, and urged particular attention to the safety of rescue workers during the operation.
According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Busan Coast Guard, a report came in at about 1:29 p.m. that a 286-ton tugboat had capsized about 9 kilometers southeast of Oryukdo Island. Eight crew members were reported to have been aboard, and the coast guard is currently conducting rescue operations.
