A Filipino Boat Capsized, 5 Koreans Were Killed or Missing.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade announced on the 7th that a boat, which were carrying 24 Korean passengers was capsized in the Philippines so three Koreans were killed and 2 were injured.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, a fishing boat ‘April Boy,’ which was headed to Batangas Port from a recreation island Mindor, south of Luzon Island in the Philippines, carrying Korean tourists, was capsized by an influence of a typhoon.

As a result of that accident, three Koreans were killed such as a missionary belonged to KCCC, Chon, Sang-hwa (female, 34), her daughter Oh, Eun-soo (7), and a person belonged to the missionary organization Lee, Seung-ok (female, 23).

Nineteen Koreans and three Filipino crewmen were rescued by a boat that was passing by the near water. The Filipino Coast Guard said a search mission was going on now.

The Koreans on board of that boat were 22 missionaries and college students belonged to KCCC, who were stayed in the Philippines for language training purposes since the beginning of February, and 2 Korean tourists, who joined them later. The college students belonging to KCCC were on their way back from a graduation trip.

They met with the accident while they were coming home by a rented fishing boat since the regular passenger carrier, which connected Mindor Island and Batangas Port, was canceled due to a typhoon. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade requested the Filipino Police a positive search operation of the missing people through the Korean Embassy, and it also sent two consulates to the spot.

KCCC set up a counterplan center in its headquarter in Buam-dong, Chongro-gu, Seoul, and opened a collective incense burning center.

Young-Sik Kim spear@donga.com