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Rescuers race to find survivors after South Korean ferry sinks Rescuers race to find survivors after South Korean ferry sinks
(35 minutes later)
SEOUL — Three people have died and 293 remain unaccounted for after a South Korean passenger ferry slowly sank Wednesday off the country’s southern coast, officials said.SEOUL — Three people have died and 293 remain unaccounted for after a South Korean passenger ferry slowly sank Wednesday off the country’s southern coast, officials said.
Rescuers raced to find survivors in an elaborate operation as the ferry — carrying 459 passengers, most of them high school students — gradually went belly-up, then slipped deeper and deeper into the Yellow Sea.Rescuers raced to find survivors in an elaborate operation as the ferry — carrying 459 passengers, most of them high school students — gradually went belly-up, then slipped deeper and deeper into the Yellow Sea.
More than seven hours into the search, the South Korean government said 164 had been rescued, seven of them with injuries. With the ferry 95-percent submerged, scores remained missing even as coast guard boats and helicopters swarmed the area, raising fears that South Korea was facing its deadliest maritime disaster in two decades. More than seven hours into the search, the South Korean government said 164 people had been rescued, seven of them with injuries. With the ferry 95 percent submerged, scores remained missing even as coast guard boats and helicopters swarmed the area, raising fears that South Korea was facing its deadliest maritime disaster in two decades.
Seoul earlier had announced that 368 people were rescued, but then rescinded the figure, saying it had made an error in tallying the numbers. Seoul earlier had announced that 368 people were rescued but then rescinded the figure, saying it had made an error in tallying the numbers.
The 6,825-ton ferry, the Sewol, was traveling from the port city of Incheon to Jeju island, a popular southern getaway, when it ran into trouble while rounding the southwestern tip of the Korean peninsula. Some passengers aboard said they were jolted by an impact or heard a loud noise. The boat issued a distress call for emergency help as it began to take on water and roll to its side. Soon, its deck was at nearly a 90-degree angle to the water. The 6,825-ton ferry, the Sewol, was traveling from the port city of Incheon to Jeju Island, a popular southern getaway, when it ran into trouble while rounding the southwestern tip of the Korean Peninsula. Some passengers aboard said they were jolted by an impact or heard a loud noise. The boat issued a distress call for emergency help as it began to take on water and roll to its side. Soon, its deck was at nearly a 90-degree angle to the water.
Aerial footage of the rescue scene showed an operation involving South Korea’s military and coast guard, as well as private ships that hurried to the scene. As the ferry tipped to its side, passengers could be seen sliding into the water and scrambling aboard rescue vessels. Later, commandos in black suits shimmied across the side-laying ship, pulling passengers out of windows and placing them into baskets, airlifted by helicopters. Aerial footage of the rescue scene showed an operation involving South Korea’s military and coast guard, as well as private ships that hurried to the site. As the ferry tipped to its side, passengers could be seen sliding into the water and scrambling aboard rescue vessels. Later, commandos in black uniforms shimmied across the ship as it lay on its side, pulling passengers out of windows and placing them into baskets to be airlifted by helicopters.
Some two hours after the ferry began to capsize, it was upside down in the water, only the blue tip of its hull still visible.Some two hours after the ferry began to capsize, it was upside down in the water, only the blue tip of its hull still visible.
By the early evening Wednesday, South Korea had mobilized two cranes to pull the ferry from the water. Lee Kyeong-ok, a vice minister in charge of the emergency response, said 160 divers had been dispatched to the scene, along with 72 vessels and 18 aircraft. One rescue worker told South Korea’s YTN news agency that some passengers could still be trapped in the ferry. Lee said that roughly 40 specialists were planning to going into the ferry to search for survivors. By early evening Wednesday, South Korea had mobilized two cranes to pull the ferry from the water. Lee Kyeong-ok, a vice minister in charge of the emergency response, said 160 divers were dispatched to the scene, along with 72 vessels and 18 aircraft. One rescue worker told South Korea’s YTN news agency that some passengers could still be trapped in the ferry. Lee said that roughly 40 specialists were planning to going into the ferry to search for survivors.
The cause of the accident was not immediately clear. The ferry is owned by the Chonghaejin Marine Co., and regularly makes the 13-hour, 30-minute trip from Incheon to Jeju. The Sewol is equipped for long-haul journeys, and a video on the company’s web site shows the ferry’s sleeping quarters, as well as a restaurant, convenience store, and a library. The cause of the accident was not immediately clear. The ferry is owned by the Chonghaejin Marine Co. and regularly makes the 13-hour, 30-minute trip from Incheon to Jeju. The Sewol is equipped for long-haul journeys, and a video on the company’s Web site shows the ferry’s sleeping quarters, as well as a restaurant, convenience store and a library.
Some two-thirds of the passengers were students at a high school in Ansan, south of Seoul, on a school trip. They’d planned to go to Jeju, an island famous for its hikes and museums, for a five-day trip, South Korean media said. About two-thirds of the passengers were students at a high school in Ansan, south of Seoul, on a school trip. They had planned to go to Jeju, an island famous for its hikes and museums, for a five-day trip, South Korean media said.
According to aerial image of the rescue, most of those who jumped or were pulled from the ferry were wearing life jackets. But there were conflicting reports about whether passengers were told to stay on the boat after the initial loud noise. One survivor said he was ordered to abandon the ship, but another said passengers were told to stay in place.According to aerial image of the rescue, most of those who jumped or were pulled from the ferry were wearing life jackets. But there were conflicting reports about whether passengers were told to stay on the boat after the initial loud noise. One survivor said he was ordered to abandon the ship, but another said passengers were told to stay in place.
“There was an announcement on the ferry telling passengers remain where they were so the people did nothing but sitting in a sinking ship,” Huh Woong, one of the high school’s bus drivers, told JTBC, a South Korean cable network. “There was an announcement on the ferry telling passengers to remain where they were, so the people did nothing but sitting in a sinking ship,” Huh Woong, one of the high school’s bus drivers, told JTBC, a South Korean cable network.
“The ferry was shaken very hard,” one of the rescued students, Lim Hyeong-min, told YTN. “The ferry started tipping and and I jumped into the sea. The height from the ferry to the water was lower than a one-story building. Rescue boats were right near so I swam to one boat. The water was so cold. Now that I’m changed and with a blanket, I feel better.” “The ferry was shaken very hard,” one of the rescued students, Lim Hyeong-min, told YTN. “The ferry started tipping, and I jumped into the sea. The height from the ferry to the water was lower than a one-story building. Rescue boats were right near so I swam to one boat. The water was so cold. Now that I’m changed and with a blanket, I feel better.”
Kim Soeong-mook, one of the survivors, told YTN that he fears some passengers were trapped inside, as they were unable to reach the exits as the boat severely tilted. “I thought it was going to recover the balance but it tilted even more,” Kim said. “I stayed near the entrance of the ferry where people could escape, but when the ferry tilted more it was almost difficult for people to move.” Kim Soeong-mook, one of the survivors, told YTN that he fears some passengers were trapped inside, unable to reach the exits as the boat severely tilted.
“I thought it was going to recover balance, but it tilted even more,” Kim said. “I stayed near the entrance of the ferry where people could escape, but when the ferry tilted more it was almost difficult for people to move.”
The boat’s departure had been delayed several hours because of fog, but by the time it reached South Korea’s southwestern coast, the weather was calm and relatively clear.The boat’s departure had been delayed several hours because of fog, but by the time it reached South Korea’s southwestern coast, the weather was calm and relatively clear.
The boat issued its distress signal at 8:58 a.m. Within 30 minutes, according to local media reports, the first coast guard rescue vessels had arrived. The U.S. Embassy in Seoul said that a U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship, the USS Bonhomme Richard, was on a routine patrol of waters west of the Korean peninsula and has been diverted to the scene. The boat issued its distress signal at 8:58 a.m. Within 30 minutes, according to local media reports, the first coast guard rescue vessels had arrived. The U.S. Embassy in Seoul said that a U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship, the USS Bonhomme Richard, was on a routine patrol of waters west of the Korean Peninsula and has been diverted to the scene.