South Korea: All passengers rescued from stranded ferry

Some five passengers reportedly suffered injuries from the impact after the vessel ran aground on a small rocky island near Jindo.

Rescuers in South Korea have saved all 267 people after a passenger ferry ran aground near the peninsula's southwestern tip on Wednesday.

The 26,000-tonne vessel was traveling from Jeju Island to the Mokpo port when it hit a small rocky island in the southwest of the country near Jindo Island.

On board were 246 passengers and 21 crew members.

The coast guard said it rescued all those on the ship after mobilizing about 20 vessels and a plane.

Some five passengers reportedly suffered injuries from the impact of the grounding.

The Coast Guard has said human error may have caused the accident, but a full investigation is underway, according to Commissioner General Kim Yong-jin.

President Lee calls for swift rescue

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung ordered real-time updates on the rescue operation.

Lee was conducting a state visit to the United Arab Emirates for talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Jeju is located some 80 kilometers (nearly 50 miles) south of the Korean Peninsula, while the smaller Jindo island is connected to the mainland by bridge.

The island in the Korean Strait is a top holiday destination for South Koreans. It is home to the Hallasan volcano and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The site of the Wednesday grounding is near the area where the Sewol ferry sank in 2014, an accident that killed over 300 people.

Edited by: Wesley Rahn