13 Filipinos among 52 missing in Bering Sea

SEOUL—Rescuers searched on Monday for 52 people, including 13 Filipinos, missing after a South Korean fishing ship they were working on sank in the Bering Sea, an official said. At least one person died.

Authorities rescued seven crew members and recovered one body, but weather and water conditions were complicating the search for the others, the official, from the South Korean fisheries and oceans ministry, said on condition of anonymity because of office rules.

The crew included 35 Indonesians, 13 Filipinos, 11 South Koreans and one Russian inspector.

The ship sank in the western part of the Bering Sea, near Russia.

The ministry official said it was believed that the ship, which was catching pollock, began to list after stormy weather caused seawater to flood its storage areas.

The official said the 2,100-ton ship was 35 years old.

The South Korean foreign ministry said it asked Russian officials to work quickly to rescue the other crew members.

Kim Kang-ho from Sajo Industries, which owns the ship, said the vessel left for the Bering Sea from a port in Busan, South Korea, on July 10.

There are five South Korean-owned ships currently fishing in the Bering Sea to catch pollock, which is a winter delicacy in South Korea, Kim said.