Busan to launch 3rd attempt to guide canal-trapped shark back to sea

BUSAN, October 21 (Yonhap) -- The southeastern port city of Busan is preparing for its third attempt to rescue a shark trapped in a canal for over a month. A joint rescue team comprised of municipal and Coast Guard officials will deploy a net connected to a flat floating platform to guide the shark back to the open sea at Busan's North Port, situated around 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul.

Identified as "Bukang-i," the shark was first observed in the canal on September 18. Since then, it has turned the canal park into a major attraction, garnering more than 1.6 million visitors as of Sunday. Despite two prior rescue efforts that proved unsuccessful, officials are set to attempt the rescue again due to the shark's deteriorating health from falling water temperatures.

In the upcoming operation, one vessel will tow the net while another will use water jets to steer the shark towards the canal exit. This time, personnel will be positioned on the spacious pontoon to prevent the shark from leaping over the barrier. During the second rescue attempt, the shark managed to leap over the net and re-enter the canal.