Two crew members killed in oil tanker fire off South Korea

Tragedy struck off the coast of South Korea when a fire broke out on an oil products tanker, claiming the lives of two crew members. The blaze occurred on Thursday (August 27) aboard the 7,333-ton vessel, which was carrying 18 crew, including seven foreign nationals.

According to Yonhap News Agency, citing the Coast Guard, the two victims were discovered deceased in the ship's engine room. The immediate response saw the Coast Guard successfully rescue the remaining 16 crew members from the perilous situation.

The tanker was situated in waters off Incheon. Firefighting efforts were successful in extinguishing the blaze around 4 a.m. on Friday. The cause of the fire and further details surrounding the incident are expected to be investigated.

This incident highlights the inherent dangers faced by maritime crews, particularly those working on vessels carrying hazardous materials like oil products. The successful rescue of the majority of the crew underscores the critical role of the Coast Guard in maritime safety operations.

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The two victims were found dead in the engine room.