S Korean Naval Officer Killed in Accident during Welcoming Ceremony for Destroyer

One Navy officer was killed and four were injured Friday in an accident involving a destroyer that returned home after an anti-piracy mission off Somalia.

Yonhap News reported that the accident occurred at 1015 hours at a naval base in the southern port of Jinhae when a rope used to secure the 4,400-ton Choi Young destroyer to the dock snapped for an unknown reason, the report said quoting unknown officials.

A welcoming ceremony was being held at the time when the accident occurred. The crew were being felicitated for safe return of the vessel that had been escorting ships and performing anti-piracy mission for six months in the Gulf of Aden.

The five officers were taken to nearby hospitals after the accident. A 22-year-old petty officer second class, whose identity is withheld, died, with serious injuries to his face, while under treatment, officials said. He was set to be discharged from the military about one month later. Four others sustained non-life-threatening injuries to parts of their bodies, such as their arms.

The Navy will carry out an investigation to determine the cause of the accident, the report said.