SOUTH KOREA – Two killed after tanker catches fire off Incheon

Two crew members died after a 7,000-ton Korean tanker carrying oil products caught fire in waters off Incheon, west of Seoul, late Thursday 20th August, the Coast Guard said.

The blaze was reported at approximately 10:38 p.m. Thursday. Eighteen crew members were aboard the vessel at the time, including 11 South Koreans and seven foreign nationals.

Two men, one in his 60s and another in his 20s, were found in cardiac arrest following the fire. They were taken to a nearby port for medical treatment but later died.

The remaining 16 crew members were rescued and were reported to be in stable condition.

The fire was completely extinguished at around 4 a.m. Friday. Preliminary findings indicate that the blaze may have started in the engine room. Authorities said the fire did not spread to the vessel’s oil storage compartment.

The Coast Guard will investigate the exact cause of the incident and assess the extent of the damage to the tanker.

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