Six Russian Sailors Injured After Cargo Ship Catches Fire Near South Korea

Burning Vessel — Image Credits: Korea Coast Guard

A fire broke out on a Russian-flagged refrigerated cargo ship, Crystal Asia, near Busan, South Korea, on March 26, 2025. The ship, carrying 23 Russian sailors onboard, suffered an engine failure, which led to smoke and flames inside the vessel.

According to reports, Crystal Asia departed Busan Port at around 7:00 am local time carrying ballast. While it was approximately 5 miles (8 km) from the port, crew members noticed smoke coming from the engine room.

The South Korean Coast Guard, along with Busan Marine Police and the Central Marine Rescue Group, quickly responded to the emergency. They dispatched multiple rescue boats to the scene as the fire intensified.

All 23 crew members were evacuated, but six of the crew members were injured in the incident. Two of them sustained serious burns. They were transported to a hospital for treatment.

The South Korean Consulate General in Russia later confirmed that two sailors had sustained severe burns and injuries while four others had minor wounds.

The Coast Guard’s preliminary inspection revealed traces of an explosion inside the ship. Officials are investigating whether the fire was caused by a mechanical malfunction or an actual explosion.

Emergency teams extinguished the fire within 50 minutes and a tugboat was deployed to tow the damaged ship back to Busan Port, where it is currently docked for inspection and repairs.

Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire.

References: defensemirror, express

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