South Korea passenger ferry sinks

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Seoul - A passenger ship with 477 people on board, mostly high school students, has sank in waters off South Korea’s southwest coast, leaving at least two dead and 107 others missing.

The 6 325-ton passenger ship "SEWOL" capsized and sank down into waters off the Jindo Island on Wednesday, just off the southwest corner of the Korean Peninsula.

The ferry, which was carrying 453 passengers and 24 crew members, sent out a distress signal and had floated in the waters for some two and a half hours with its body being on the careen.

The vessel was believed to run aground in the waters as some rescued passengers said the ship began to careen to the port side after making a banging sound on the bow.

The ferry went off the pre-arranged sea route as it departed some two and a half hours later than scheduled due to a thick fog.

The Coast Guard was quoted as saying that a 22-year-old female crew member and a high school male student have been found dead.

A total of 368 people were confirmed rescued. Efforts to rescue others continue.

The vice minister said 350 more rescuers were dispatched to the scene to help search for the 107 missing people, who were feared to be trapped inside the sunken vessel.

The 453 passengers on board included 324 high school students and 14 teachers who had been on the way for a school journey.

The ship departed from South Korea's western port city of Incheon Tuesday night, heading for the southern resort island of Jeju.

After receiving the distress signal, the South Korean authorities, including police, firehouse, coast guard and navy, dispatched 24 rescue ships and scrambled 16 helicopters to the scene for rescue operations.

There was no Chinese passengers on board the vessel, according to the Chinese Embassy in South Korea. – SAnews.gov.za-Xinhua