Firefighters put out the flames on the vessel (Photo: Yonhap)

The commander of the vessel appealed for urgent help from the maritime traffic control centre.

All 60 crew members, comprising 49 Korean nationals, 10 Vietnamese, and one Italian, were evacuated on a tugboat about 12 minutes after the fire broke out.

None suffered serious injuries but seven were hospitalised with smoke inhalation.

The Tongyeong coast guard deployed 16 ships and helicopters to put out the flames.

The fire began when crew members were laying submarine cables connecting Busan city with Jeju Island.

The Korea Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the fire, which is believed to have started near the engine room./.VNA