Urgent Search Underway for Missing Fishermen Off Kollam Coast
Two fishermen are currently unaccounted for after their boat sank following a collision with a foreign ship off the Kollam coast, authorities reported on Sunday. The incident involved the fishing vessel St Joseph, which had a total of 11 crew members on board. While nine crew members were rescued shortly after the accident, efforts to locate the missing individuals have so far been unsuccessful.
Details of the Collision
The tragic accident occurred on Saturday, approximately 120 nautical miles from the coast. The St Joseph was engaged in deep-sea fishing when it collided with a larger vessel. The impact was severe, leading to significant damage and causing the fishing boat to sink rapidly. Coastal police confirmed that the ship involved in the collision promptly rescued nine crew members from the water.
The St Joseph had departed from Shakthikulangara harbour in Kollam on Friday night, with all crew members hailing from various states. Following the rescue, the nine fishermen are expected to be brought to either Kochi or Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram. Authorities plan to record their statements to gather more information about the incident and will subsequently file a case regarding the collision.
Search operations for the two missing fishermen are ongoing, with officials coordinating efforts to locate them. The situation remains critical as the community and authorities await further developments in this distressing incident.
