Authorities conduct search and rescue efforts after two fishing boats carrying a combined 15 crew members ran aground in waters off Jeju Island, provided by the Jeju Coast Guard Station, Feb.1. Yonhap

The Korean Coast Guard has yet to locate two missing crew members despite its continued search and rescue operations, officials said Sunday, one day after two fishing boats ran aground in waters off the southern island of Jeju.

The Jeju Coast Guard Station has mobilized seven vessels and about a dozen personnel to conduct the search and rescue efforts since 6 p.m. Saturday.

The Coast Guard received reports at 9:24 a.m. Saturday that a 32-ton fishing boat carrying seven people and a 29-ton vessel with eight crew members were stranded on a rock in waters off Jeju Island.

Coast guard personnel conducts search and rescue efforts after two fishing boats carrying a combined 15 crew members ran aground in waters off Jeju Island, provided by the Jeju Coast Guard Station, Feb.1. Yonhap

The incident left two people dead, with two others, both Indonesians, missing.

Authorities said they faced challenges in the search efforts due to high waves of around 3 meters and strong wind in the area.

The Coast Guard said it deployed 14 vessels, seven aircraft and over 580 personnel Sunday to continue the search efforts.

They were also looking into the exact cause of the incident by questioning the rescued crew members.

An initial investigation found the fishing boat carrying seven people experienced an engine failure on its way to a port in Jeju.

The vessel requested the other boat carrying eight people to help, which attempted to pull out the stranded ship but failed, leaving both ships stuck. (Yonhap)