4 deaths in a ship flying Cambodia flag of convenience

4 Chinese killed in cargo ship fire off S.Korean coast: Chinese consular officials

January 07, 2011
Xinhua

Four Chinese were killed in a fire on a Cambodia-flagged cargo ship off South Korea's southeastern coast, Chinese consular officials told Xinhua Friday.

The fire broke out on the ship at around 6:50 a.m. Friday (2150 GMT Thursday) when the 1,412-ton Yunxing was anchoring in Busan port, South Korea's largest port located in the southeastern coast, consular officials said.

There are a total of nine crew members, including eight Chinese and one Myanma, aboard the ship when the accident took place. Four Chinese crew members, including the captain, were killed, and other five people were rescued.

Preliminary investigation showed the fire, likely caused by a short circuit, started in the dining room on the first floor of the ship, local police said, adding that they will make further investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire