12 feared dead after cargo ship sinks off South Korea

A Chinese cargo ship sank off South Korea’s west coast after colliding with an anchored freighter, leaving at least three crew members on the Chinese ship dead and nine others missing.

The 2,972-ton Xinhai 7 was entering the port of Incheon, west of Seoul, when it slammed into the 3,980-ton Korea Gas at about 4am (1900 GMT Sunday), a coast guard statement said.

“The sunken vessel is presumed to have not recognised the anchored vessel and collided with it,” the coast guard said.

The Chinese vessel, which was carrying iron ore, sank immediately. A nearby vessel rescued five of the 17 crew members, while three were found dead and nine others remained missing, the coast guard said. A helicopter and 29 boats were searching the area.

The ship’s captain, 37-year-old Wang Guotian, was identified among the three dead bodies recovered.

The South Korean cargo ship sustained minor damage and all its crew were safe, the coast guard said.