Rescue operation for Busan shark set to resume

BUSAN, October 2 (Yonhap) -- Rescue crews are set to restart efforts on Friday to steer a canal-bound shark, dubbed Bukang-i, back to open waters off Busan's North Port. A combined team from the city and Coast Guard, comprising 10 personnel and two vessels, will commence the operation at 3:30 p.m. using a 50-meter-long, 6.8-meter-high net.

Two boats will handle the net's central component, while five individuals positioned on each side of the canal will synchronize their efforts to pull the net in alignment with the shark's pace towards the canal's exit. The second vessel will carry pumps to generate water jets to assist the shark in its journey. During the initial attempt on Tuesday, authorities spent around five hours attempting to guide the shark out of the canal using solely water streams, a strategy that proved ineffective as the shark repeatedly evaded capture by swimming behind the boats.

Bukang-i, a port-derived moniker, has drawn over 600,000 visitors since its discovery in the canal on September 18. After observing no feeding activity since its appearance, officials deemed it impractical to permit the shark to remain in the canal and convened a meeting on Monday to deliberate on rescue strategies.