A tragic fire broke out in the early hours of August 16 in the Port of Yeosu, involving two vessels anchored side by side, reports Lloyd’s List.
The blaze began at approximately 01:00 KST on one vessel and quickly spread to the adjacent one.
Cargo ship fire
Firefighting efforts were complicated by the presence of hazardous cargo: one vessel was carrying around 2,500 tonnes of toxic chemicals and 100 tonnes of fuel oil, prompting authorities to mount a significant response. A total of 15 vessels and a fireboat were deployed in combination with local fire services to manage the crisis.
All 18 crew members—14 from the first vessel and 4 from the second—were successfully evacuated. Tragically, the captain of the smaller vessel, a man in his 50s, was found unconscious and later confirmed dead. Two other crew members, both Myanmar nationals on the chemical-carrying ship, suffered injuries: one is in critical condition, while the other sustained lesser injuries.
Thanks to the concerted efforts of the Coast Guard and firefighting teams, the blaze was fully extinguished by around 07:45 KST—nearly seven hours after it began.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the origin of the fire and are implementing measures to ensure no secondary damage occurs.
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Source: Lloyd’s List
