Night search for missing person from tugboat capsize accident off Busan for 15 days

(Busan = Yonhap News) Reporter Youngjae Lee = A nightly search operation began for the 15th day for the five missing people in the capsize accident of the tugboat TNS Catcher that occurred off the coast of Busan on the 2nd.

The Busan Marine Police Station announced on the afternoon of the 16th that it would begin its night search operation on the 15th, focusing on the sea area where the accident occurred.

16 ships will be deployed to conduct a maritime search in an area 25 km wide and 252 km long. Military thermal imaging devices (TOD) are also used.

Currently, in the area of ​​the accident, a northeast wind is blowing at a speed of 8 to 10 m per second with a wave height of around 1.5 m. A storm warning was announced at 4 p.m. on this day.

Even during the Coast Guard's weekly search, no missing persons or belongings were found.

Originally, the shipping company planned to install a barge for private diver work in the area where the TNS Catcher sank on this day, but was unable to install it due to delays in insurance-related procedures.

On the 2nd, the TNS Catcher capsized during towing operations about 9km east of Oryukdo Island.

One crew member was rescued in this accident, but two died, and five others are missing and a search operation is underway.