As per reports, a cruise ship operating on the Han River near Banpo Bridge in Seoul ran aground in a shallow section close to the Rainbow Fountain at around 2030 hours (local time) on Saturday (28 March), prompting emergency rescue operations.
• The vessel had commenced operations at 1930 hours (local time) and and got stuck on the riverbe. Attempts by the crew to free the ship by restarting the engine were unsuccessful, and smoke was observed emanating from the engine area, raising concerns of a potential fire risk.
• Approximately 300 passengers were on board at the time of the incident. Firefighters and patrol boats were dispatched and have been conducting sequential evacuation and transfer of passengers to rescue vessels as a precautionary measure. No casualties or injuries have been reported. Further updates are awaited.
