South Korean Ferry Runs Aground; All Passengers Rescued

A South Korean ferry has run aground off the country's southwestern coast, but officials say all 109 passengers were rescued.

Officials say the ship, which was carrying mostly tourists, struck a rock Tuesday in the waters off Jeolla province near Hongdo Island.

Several fishing boats that were already in the area helped rescue the passengers. No serious injuries were reported.

The incident occurred just 70 kilometers from where the Sewol ferry sank in April, killing over 300 passengers, mostly high school students.

The Seoul government has been widely criticized for the lax safety standards thought to have led to the Sewol crash.