S Korean boat sinks in Antarctic; 22 feared dead
A South Korean fishing boat sank in the Antarctic Ocean's frigid waters yesterday, with 22 sailors feared killed in the open sea where vessels trawl for deep-water fish.
Five sailors were confirmed dead and 20 survivors were rescued shortly after the 614-ton vessel went down some 1,400 miles (2,250 kilometers) south of New Zealand, about halfway to Antarctica, South Korea's Foreign Ministry and coast guard said. Seventeen sailors were missing.
Anyone who fell into such waters would typically be dead in 10 minutes without special suits or lifejackets, though nearby fishing boats searched frantically in hopes that some may be in a life raft, New Zealand's rescue coordination centre said.
"We were fortunate that there were a number of vessels in the general area (where the boat sank), so they were able to provide assistance," said Ross Henderson, a spokesman for the centre.
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