South Korean rescuers continued to search for 11 missing crew members of the "Grand Fortune 1" on Apr 4, 2014, at 1.30 a.m. about 80 miles south of Yeosu and some 74 kilometers south of Geomun Island with 20 vessels and six aircraft. High waves and strong wind hampered the search efforts. The three rescued men told investigators they escaped from the ship as it was tilting with its freight of iron ore which was bound from China to Chongjin being pushed to one side. A coastguard helicopter found one scastaway drifting in the sea about three hours after the distress call came. Two crew members were rescued later. Also Japan’s coastguard had been asked to join the SAR operation.
Two crew members were found dead and three were rescued, while a search was under way for the other 11 crew still missing, the officials said.
The Grand Fortune 1 was sailing from the Chongjin region on North Korea's east coast for a Chinese port carrying iron ore, said one official, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
The vessel sails regularly between North Korea and China, according to Reuters' ship tracking system.
The rescued crew members were taken to a South Korean hospital for treatment, according to the coast guard.