Jung Woo 2: In this undated photo provided by Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, the South Korean fishing boat Jung Woo 2 is moored in an unknown harbor. Three crew members aboard the fishing boat are believed to have died when a fire raged through their quarters early Wednesday, while fishing near Antarctica. (AP/CCAMLR, Natasha)The Indonesian Ambassador in Wellington, Antonius Agus Sriyono, said there were seven Indonesian nationals onboard a South Korean fishing vessel that caught fire early on Wednesday close to Antarctica.
Of the 40 crew members registered with ship, the Jung Woo 2, three died in the fire, while seven, among others who were rescued, suffered from major and minor injuries or burns, according to Agus.
“All of the three crew members who died were Vietnamese nationals, none of them were Indonesians,” he told The Jakarta Post from Wellington over the phone.
“We don’t know yet whether the seven Indonesian nationals are among those who have been rescued [unharmed] or whether they are among those suffering injuries.”
Agus said he was still coordinating with the Wellington-based Rescue Coordination Centre, which had deployed a team to save the crew members.
The fire appears to have started in the living quarters of the 51-meter Jung Woo 2 before it quickly spread to the engine room and the ship's fish processing plant, said Mike Roberts, the senior search and rescue officer with the centre, The Associated Press reported.
It raged out of control, he said, with the crew's firefighting teams unable to tame it.
The sister ship, Jung Woo 3, and another Korean vessel, the Hong Jin 707, came to the rescue within three hours, he said.
"We're pretty fortunate that we were able to get 37 out of 40 to safety," Roberts said as quoted by AP. "It was a really catastrophic event."
A US research vessel, the Nathaniel B. Palmer, was expected to reach the crew on Wednesday evening. Roberts said the US crew will treat the injured seamen, then deliver them ashore at McMurdo Base for more extensive help and a possible evacuation to New Zealand.
Agus said he also expected the Nathaniel B. Palmer, which had hospital facilities, to immediately arrive at the scene.
Below are the names and years of birth of the Indonesian nationals onboard the Jung Woo 2:
1. Victor sopacua, 1974
2. Hartoyo, 1985
3. Sutisno, 1980
4. Domssi Sitaniapessy, 1988
5. Jant Je Sopacua, 1984
6. Ferilando Alfonso, 1982
7. Maryanto, 1989
