Seoul (VNA) – A Vietnamese sailor and a Chinese national wentmissing when their fishing vessel caught fire in waters off the southwesterncoast of the Republic of Korea on January 17, local authorities said.
They are believed tohave jumped off the boat right after the fire broke out. A search for them isunderway.
Another Vietnamesesailor suffered burns and was sent to a hospital, Yonhap News reported
The 85-tonne vesselcarrying 12 crewmen caught fire in the sea off about 6.4 kilometers northeastof Narodo, an island in Goheung county, South Jeolla province, at around 8:25am, according to the Coast Guard of the RoK.
The fire has beenextinguished by the authorities. Coast Guard officials are investigating theexact cause of the blaze.-VNA