Hopes fade for 14 missing seamen in SKorea: coast guard

0 Comments | AFP, December, 2007

SEOUL (AFP) — South Korea Wednesday resumed an air and sea search for 14 seamen missing after their freighter sank but officials said it would be a miracle to find anyone still alive.

The chemical carrier Eastern Bright, carrying 2,000 tons of nitric acid, went down in rough seas off the southern port city of Yeosu before dawn Tuesday.

A Myanmarese seaman was rescued about five hours afterwards but 12 Koreans and two Myanmarese remain unaccounted for.

"It would be a miracle if we could find any more survivors in the cold water," a spokesman for the Yeosu Coast Guard told AFP.

A total of 35 navy and coast guard vessels, including a navy minesweeper equipped with sonar, and four aircraft were searching the area.

The navy said the minesweeper...