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South Korea: Ferry Sinks Over 240 Missing

http://media.skynews.com/media/image...-1-942x530.jpg
Hundreds of school children are told to jump off a listing ferry as the stricken vessel begins to sink.

More than 300 people remain unaccounted for after a ferry with more than 400 passengers sank off the coast of South Korea, according to reports.

At least three people have been confirmed dead; two males and a female crew member.

Two of the victims are in their 20s, while the other is a teenager.

http://news.sky.com/story/1243357/so...er-ferry-sinks

what are all those big orange boxes?

Containers, they'll be filled with some kind of supplies for the ship or perhaps even to be delivered elsewhere. That's scary.

I wonder if this is one of those old "Ro-Ro" (Roll on Roll Off) ferry's that were banned from European countries 10 years ago after the major accidents ie herald of Free Enterprise and the other one in holland.

I wonder if they are now plying their trade in Asian countries where safety laws are more relaxed.

Quote:

Almost 300 people remain unaccounted for after a ferry carrying 459 people capsized and sank off South Korea.

The ferry, carrying mainly school students, was travelling from the port of Incheon, in the north-west, to the southern resort island of Jeju.

Continue reading the main story
Analysis

image of Martin Patience
Martin Patience
BBC News, Seoul
South Korean TV networks are constantly replaying dramatic footage of the rescue efforts before the ferry sinks. It shows an armada of small boats motoring right up beside the ferry, which listed heavily on its side before sinking.

Rescuers are seen desperately grabbing teenagers out of the water before they are swept away by the currents and undertow. Other footage shows helicopters throwing orange life rafts to passengers bobbing on the sea. Some of the passengers are then winched to safety.

What makes this accident even more distressing is the fact that among those on board were high school students on a trip to a holiday island.

Relatives and friends of those on board are posting on social media sites asking for any news or information about loved ones.

On Facebook many South Koreans are re-posting a yellow ribbon to symbolise the hope that the missing may still be found alive.

"Please, please survive and come back," the message reads. "We love you guys."

Dramatic rescue
Emergency teams are using floodlights and flares to search the stricken vessel through the night. Those rescued have been taken to a nearby island.

Four people are now said to have died and dozens of others have been hurt.

South Korean officials had earlier said that 368 people had been plucked to safety, but later said there had been a counting error.

They have now revised down the number rescued to 174.

Images showed the ferry listing at a severe angle and then later almost completely submerged, with only a small part of its hull visible. It sank within two hours of sending a distress signal, reports said.

There are fears this could turn out to be South Korea's biggest maritime disaster for more than 20 years, says the BBC's Martin Patience in Seoul.

Cause unclear
Several coast guard, military and commercial vessels were involved in the rescue effort, which unfolded rapidly on Wednesday morning.

Pictures from the scene showed rescue teams balanced on the sinking hull pulling teenagers from cabin windows. Some of their classmates jumped into the sea as the ship went down.

Reports suggest some of those rescued were picked up by nearby commercial vessels.

The US Navy has sent an amphibious assault ship, the USS Bonhomme Richard, to assist with the search, officials say.

Continue reading the main story
MV Sewol
Passengers on board: 459
Maximum capacity: 900
Length: 146 metres
Built: 1994
Source: Reuters
REUTERS
Map: Location of the sinking
Passengers from the ferry are rescued by a South Korean coast guard helicopter on 16 April 2014
Military and civilian ships and helicopters have been searching for survivors
South Korea Coast Guard members search near a South Korean ferry after it capsized on its way to Jeju island from Incheon on 16 April 2014
Reports said the ship capsized and sank within a period of two hours
Teams of navy divers were now searching the scene for those unaccounted for, officials said, but the work was challenging.

"There is so much mud in the sea water and the visibility is very low," said Lee Gyeong-og, vice-minister of security and public administration.

One body, of a female crew member, had been recovered from the ship, the coastguard said. Another person, a male high school student, died after being rescued.

Continue reading the main story
Major maritime accidents in South Korea

1970: Sinking of passenger vessel Namyoung leaves 323 dead
1993: Sinking of passenger vessel Seohae Ferry leaves 292 dead
2007: Sinking of freighter Eastern Bright leaving 14 sailors missing
2009: Sinking of cargo ship Orchid Pia after a collision leaves 16 sailors missing
Source: Yonhap

One student told local media her friends became trapped.

"Currently, I am in the middle of being rescued. At the time, the ship was turning on its side, and none of us were moving as we were told not to move as it was dangerous," the unnamed student said.

"So, I am not well aware of the situation, but I am told that my friends and other friends could not escape as the passage was blocked. It seems that there are many students who could not get out as the passage was blocked by water."

It is not yet clear what caused the incident, but witnesses described hearing an impact, before the ship listed and quickly sank.

One passenger told the YTN news channel: "We heard a big thumping sound and the boat stopped."

Rescued passengers are brought to land in Jindo after a South Korean ferry carrying 476 passengers and crew sank on its way to Jeju island on 16 April 2014
Teams have brought rescued passengers to shore - at least 13 are reported to be hurt
Maritime police search for missing passenger as lighting flares are released for a night search on 16 April 2014.
Flares light up the sky as the search for missing passengers continues through the night
Relative cries as she waits for missing passengers at a port in Jindo, South Korea, on 16 April 2014
Relatives of the missing are waiting to hear of the fate of their loved ones
"The boat is tilting and we have to hold on to something to stay seated," the passenger said.

Another passenger said the ship was "shaking and tilting", with people tripping and bumping into each other.

Survivor: "There was an announcement telling us to sit still, but the ferry was already sinking"
South Korean President Park Geun-hye has expressed sadness over the incident, saying it was "truly tragic" that students on a field trip were involved in "such an unfortunate accident".

Kim Young-boong, an official from the company which owns the ferry, has apologised.

Continue reading the main story
Analysis

image of Richard Westcott
Richard Westcott
BBC Transport correspondent
Domestic ferries across some parts of Asia have a bad safety record, especially in countries such as the Philippines and Indonesia where ships can be overcrowded and poorly maintained. But in recent years South Korea has been one of the exceptions.

This particular ferry was built in Japan, who make some of the best ships in the world. It wasn't anywhere near full and it was travelling a well-worn route in reasonably calm seas. The speed with which it flipped over and sank is a major concern.

Passengers described a loud thud, which might suggest it hit something hard. It doesn't matter how well built the ship is, collisions can sink vessels very quickly.

Survivors have also complained that they were told to stay put even though the ferry was tipping over. That's not as surprising as you might think. The basic assumption is always that the ship is the best lifeboat. That it's normally safer to stay on board than brave the water.

All of these split second evacuation decisions and the design of the ship, will be analysed by investigators.

"I would like to say sorry to the passengers, which include a number of students and their parents, and promise that our company will do its best to minimise loss of life. We are sorry," he said, according to the AP news agency.

Continue reading the main story
South Korea ferry

Ferry - named Sewol - was travelling from Incheon to Jeju Island, a route it serves twice a week
The 146m-long vessel has a capacity of about 900 people but was carrying about 470 people
Passengers include about 330 students from Danwon High School in Ansan, a suburb of Seoul
Weather conditions were described as fine. Yonhap news agency said that the ferry sank at a depth of 30m (90ft).

News agencies said the ferry had sent out a distress signal about 20km (12 miles) off the island of Byungpoong at about 09:00 local time (00:00 GMT).

"We will try to determine the cause of the accident after rescue operations are over," said Lee Gyeong-og.

Many of the passengers were students from a high school in a suburb of Seoul heading off on a four-day field trip to Jeju.

Angry parents have gathered at the school in Ansan to demand answers, reports the BBC's Lucy Williamson in Seoul.

Earlier reports put the number of passengers on the ferry at about 350. The vessel is reported to have a capacity of up to 900 people.

Lee Gyeong-og, the vice-minister of security and public administration, was quoted by the AP news agency as saying that 30 crew members, 325 high school students, 15 school teachers and 89 non-student passengers were aboard the ship.

There was a counting error of the survivors/found, more than 300 are missing and/or feared dead :(

Wow, that ship went down quickly, live on BBC now for the search for the 300 missing

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-27046455

7 confirmed dead so far

Awful news. Also 102 years to the day since Titanic.

Are they confident of suddenly finding over 300 people alive ?

This is a maritime disaster of epic proportions, there should be much more being done to try and save as many lives as possible.

9 conformed dead so far, the rest still missing and are suspected to be trapped/drowned in the ship

..I guess there is still some hope of survivors with air pockets on the ship...

Some are saying the kids were told to stay in the cabins?
The Captain ,infact
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/...n_2885085c.jpg

Thats like Murder

http://media.skynews.com/media/image...-1-626x352.jpg

South Korea ferry disaster: captain 'abandoned sinking ship'
Distraught relatives of South Korea's ferry disaster victims say captain left the ship before the passengers were safe

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...king-ship.html

Guilty Captain 100%

One head teacher that escaped
and got back to the island has been Found Hanged

[Deputy head teacher rescued from South Korea ferry found hanged
Teacher found in apparent suicide next to gymnasium set up for survivors after rescue from ferry that sank
with hundreds of his students trapped inside ]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...nd-hanged.html

Oh that's awful he must have been in total shock and grief stricken :(
Totally heartbreaking story this can't imagine how those parents feel.

That poor teacher :(

They are now pumping air into the ferry to raise it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benjamin (Post 6803790)

That poor teacher :(

They are now pumping air into the ferry to raise it.

He is better Dead
as the kids should have been saved before him.

The Captain is a Criminal
and may also take his life.

Every man for himself
South Korea a nation in hi tech phones
and boats that are Not Safe

Quote:

Originally Posted by arista (Post 6803794)

Don't be such a ****.

It's not his fault he was saved.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benjamin (Post 6803802)

Don't be such a ****.

It's not his fault he was saved.

So leave the kids in the cabins
while he Escapes.

Evil

It doesn't say he escaped though, it says he was rescued. He can't help if he was rescued before the kids, especially if they were trapped and he wasn't.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...tay-below.html

South Korean ferry disaster: Captain 'abandoned ship while passengers told to stay below'
Prosecutors seek charges against captain and two crew members as special forces divers enter capsized ferry amid fading hopes for survivors

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benjamin (Post 6803814)

It doesn't say he escaped though, it says he was rescued. He can't help if he was rescued before the kids, especially if they were trapped and he wasn't.

yes amazing he was not trapped

No kids were Trapped at that time

They were told to stay in their cabins

its murder

Quote:

Originally Posted by arista (Post 6803794)

that's disgusting how is he better of dead

imo I wouldn't care if a Caption/Teacher left the ship before the other's because it's his own life

It would make no difference if they stayed on

Quote:

Originally Posted by arista (Post 6803819)

yes amazing he was not trapped

No kids were Trapped at that time

They were told to stay in their cabins

its murder

It depends where has was on the ship at that time. He could not have been with every single student of his at one time, that is impossible. Stop being ridiculous.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam <3 (Post 6803823)

that's disgusting how is he better of dead

imo I wouldn't care if a Caption/Teacher left the ship before the other's because it's his own life

It would make no difference if they stayed on

Wrong by then the Criminal Captain had gone
he could shout come out of your cabins now.

He could have saved so many kids who phoned their parents
saying they can not leave their cabins.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benjamin (Post 6803825)

It depends where has was on the ship at that time. He could not have been with every single student of his at one time, that is impossible. Stop being ridiculous.

There are Parents shouting into microphones
far worse than my words
I feel sorry for them
not the dead teacher

Quote:

Originally Posted by arista (Post 6803829)

Wrong by then the Criminal Captain had gone
he could shout come out of your cabins now.

He could have saved so many kids who phoned their parents
saying they can not leave their cabins.

maybe he forgot, and please just imagine if you where the caption of the ship and it was going down and you had to try and save about 500 people

and stop calling him a Criminal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by arista (Post 6803794)

... :umm2:

Everything about this story is so sad. I can't even begin to imagine being in such a situation, and regardless of whether or not that teacher was rescued "against his will" or left voluntarily before the others, I don't think it makes a difference. In a disaster as big as this one I can't imagine anyone on that ship thought logically and sensibly. To say he is better off dead is horrible. I can only hope that everyone involved can move on in some way or another. Too many lives have already been lost.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam <3 (Post 6803893)

maybe he forgot, and please just imagine if you where the caption of the ship and it was going down and you had to try and save about 500 people

and stop calling him a Criminal.

He is now to be Charged by the Police.

So I will call the Fecking Coward a Criminal

All those children left to die
Criminal

Quote:

Originally Posted by arista (Post 6803897)

He is now to be Charged by the Police.

So I will call the Fecking Coward a Criminal

All those children left to die
Criminal

how dare you call him a coward, he did the right thing care about his own life first

I bet 100% you would of done the same, or maybe he didn't know where the children where or they where trapped and couldn't get to them there would be no point staying there if there was no way of getting the children out

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam <3 (Post 6803901)

how dare you call him a coward, he did the right thing care about his own life first

I bet 100% you would of done the same, or maybe he didn't know where the children where or they where trapped and couldn't get to them there would be no point staying there if there was no way of getting the children out

He Told the kids to stay in their Cabins
Then escaped

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/...e_2886568d.jpg
[Prosecutors seek charges against captain
and two crew members as special forces divers
enter capsized ferry amid fading hopes for survivors ]

Sadly no one could get to the cabins

..'I thought the water would be too cold for the children'....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ot-bodies.html

Sure he can claim that
but staying in a cabin is far worse
And some kids were on their Samsung phones
telling there parents they have been told to stay in the cabins.

Quote:

Originally Posted by arista (Post 6805970)

Sure he can claim that
but staying in a cabin is far worse
And some kids were on their Samsung phones
telling there parents they have been told to stay in the cabins.

...hmmm, but one of my thoughts would also be how cold the water would be and yeah, you could think that at least the children might have had more of a chance for survival if they were off the ship but there would also be a chance of air pockets in the cabins as well though...

Personally I wouldn't have stayed in my cabin if I knew I was on a sinking ship!