Explosion Sparks Fire on Russian Cargo Ship Near Busan, South Korea

A fire broke out aboard the Russian refrigerated cargo ship Crystal Asia, approximately eight kilometers off the coast of South Korea’s Busan, several crew members sustained injuries, Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti reported on March 26.

According to a representative of the ship’s owning company, Trans Wind Fleet, the fire was caused by an explosion in the engine room.

Russia’s General Consulate in South Korea confirmed that 23 people were on board at the time of the incident, including 22 Russian nationals.

Currently, at least six Russian crew members have been injured, with two in critical condition.

“The injuries were mostly caused by flying glass due to the blast wave,” a source told RIA Novosti.

The exact cause of the explosion remains unknown.

“The ship is now docked at Busan Port, where it will undergo repairs. Before this, the vessel had undergone minor maintenance in South Korea and set sail without cargo,” the source added.

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