Fishermen to be airlifted from Antarctica

WELLINGTON, (AP):

Rescue officials say a United States Air Force plane will airlift seven crewmen burned in a raging fire on their ship near Antarctica that killed three other fishermen.

They say the plane left New Zealand yesterday and will fly to Antarctica to pick up the four Vietnamese and three Indonesian crew.

The fire on the South Korean ship Jung Woo 2 quickly spread despite the crew's attempts to fight it on Wednesday. Thirty-seven crew members were rescued, including the injured. Two were severely burned and were initially unconscious.

The injured crewmen have been receiving medical treatment on an Antarctic-bound US research vessel with medical staff and facilities.

Weather and other factors will determine when the ship and plane rendezvous at McMurdo base. New Zealand's rescue coordination centre estimated the plane would return with the injured crewmen to Christchurch late Friday morning New Zealand time.

The burning boat will be towed from Antarctica to minimise the environmental.