SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - All 267 passengers and crew aboard the Queen Jenuvia II were safely rescued by 11 p.m. Wednesday, within hours after the 26,546-ton ferry ran aground near an uninhabited rock islet off South Korea’s southwestern coast as the Coast Guard rushed to the scene, mindful of preventing any repeat of the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster that killed more than 300 people.
The ferry, carrying 246 passengers and 21 crew members, struck Jok Islet near Jangsan Island in Sinan County, 366 kilometers south of Seoul, at around 8:16 p.m., according to the Coast Guard. The vessel had departed Jeju at 4:40 p.m. bound for Mokpo before its bow rode up onto the rocky outcrop, shutting down the engines and leaving the ship listing more than 15 degrees to the left.
Half of the hull was said to have climbed onto the islet. No serious injuries were reported, though 27 people complained of pain from the impact, including a pregnant woman and several elderly passengers. All passengers were transported to Mokpo via Coast Guard vessels and a coastal rescue craft.
Rescue operations involved 17 patrol ships, four coastal rescue vessels, a fixed-wing plane and special response personnel.
Commissioner General Kim Yong-jin said human error was suspected but emphasized that a full investigation was needed. President Lee Jae Myung, currently traveling in the Middle East, ordered an all-out rescue response and instructed officials to keep the public updated in real time.
Passengers described a sharp, sudden jolt when the ferry ran aground. One reported that “the bow climbed onto the island,” prompting the initial emergency call. Photos and videos posted online showed tilted interiors and items scattered across floors. Despite the impact, officials said there were no signs of flooding, fire or fuel leakage on board.
Experts noted that the accident occurred during low tide, when reefs around Jokdo rise closest to the surface, increasing the likelihood that the crew may not have detected the obstruction in time.
Authorities will inspect the hull for punctures or flooding and question the crew, including the captain, to determine the cause of the grounding. The Queen Jenuvia II, formerly operating as the Beyond Trust on the Incheon–Jeju route, had faced service suspensions in the past before being reassigned to the Jeju–Mokpo corridor.
* This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP.
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