A passenger ferry that ran aground off the southwestern coast arrived at a port Thursday in spite of everything 267 individuals aboard have been safely rescued, the Coast Guard stated.
The 26,546-ton Queen Jenuvia II was carrying 246 passengers and 21 crew members when it ran aground on the uninhabited islet of Jok close to Jangsan Island off the coast of Sinan, 366 kilometers south of Seoul, at 8:17 p.m. Wednesday.
All of the passengers have been dropped at shore inside some three hours, however the crew members stayed behind to assist deliver the vessel to port.
The ferry was dislodged by towing and sailed into a close-by port within the southwestern metropolis of Mokpo at 5:44 a.m., some 9 hours after the accident. No holes or leaks have been discovered within the ship, enabling it to sail by itself.
The Coast Guard stated it presumes the accident was attributable to human error on the a part of the captain or navigator and plans to conduct an investigation utilizing surveillance digicam footage and information recorders.
Not one of the passengers have been reported to be severely injured, although some have been taken to hospitals after complaining of gentle pains or nervous breakdowns.
