More Victims Found after South Korean Vessel Sinks

The number of victims of the sunken South Korean fishing ship climbs up to 19.

According to RIA Novosti, the rescuers recovered three more bodies from the 501 Oryong vessel which sank off the coast of Chukotka, Russia, in the western Bering Sea earlier this week.

A number of fishing vessels, along with Russian and the United States coast guard helicopters are assisting with rescue operations. USCGC Munro is expected to join the efforts today.

Officials from the South Korean government and the company that owns the ship believe that the 326-foot fishing vessel, which left South Korea on July 10, began to list after stormy weather caused seawater to flood its storage areas.

The ship’s crew of more than 60 people consisted mainly of South Korean, Indonesian and Filipino citizens. Seven people have been rescued.

Due to harsh weather conditions and rough seas there is little hope that anyone will be found alive, Philstar.com reports.

[mappress mapid=”14618″]

Naval Today Staff, Image: USCG