Asia-Pacific

Survivors of sinking boat arrive in New Zealand

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-12-24 09:09

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - The 20 survivors from the sinking of the South Korean fishing boat Insung No 1 in the Southern Ocean arrived in New Zealand South Island's southern port of Bluff on Thursday night.

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The Insung No 7, the sister ship of the doomed Insung No 1, arrived in Bluff, carrying also the bodies of five seamen, including two South Koreans, two Indonesians and one Vietnamese on Thursday night.

The Chinese Embassy to New Zealand confirmed on Friday that among the 20 survivors are four Chinese seamen. The Chines embassy has provided the travel documents to the Chinese seamen.

The Insung No 1, with a crew of 42, sank in icy seas 2,700 km southeast of Bluff on Dec 13.

Five bodies and 20 survivors were found by nearby fishing ship while 17 crewmen were lost at sea. Four other Chinese seamen were among the 17 crewmen lost at sea.

It was not yet known how the ship sank but the vessel's owner has said it sank within 30 minutes, possibly after hitting an iceberg.

New Zealand Police would interview survivors on Friday as part of a coroner's inquiry.

The South Korean Maritime Authority officials would also be in Bluff to investigate the sinking.

Arrangements would be made to repatriate the dead and send survivors back home next week.

Insung No 1 had visited Bluff annually since December 2006 to take on stores as it headed to the Ross Sea to fish for Antarctic toothfish.