South Korean ship: Dozens rescued but 293 still missing

South Korea ferry: Hundreds missing as ship sinks off coast.

According to the media reports, 386 passengers have been rescued and 104 people are still missing. The rescue operation has been spread to a wide range. It is reported that the helicopters and rescue boats are use to pluck the passenger and most of them are high school students. The rescue operation was still underway six hours after the ferry first sent out distress signal.

The weather at the time of the incident in the area was clear. Official authorities are unable to justify that what exactly caused the ship to sink. The mud on the ocean floor made underwater search operations difficult.

Kang Byung-kyu, a government minister, said that:

“The two dead are a female crew member and a male believed to be a student. A third body was found in the water but details were sketchy.”

He further added that:

“ 164 people were rescued, of whom 55 were injured. He said 292 people were missing, likely either trapped inside the ship or floating in the ocean.”

Coast Guard crews tried to break into the ferry, searching for anyone left behind, but they have been unable to do so since the vessel has sunk more than 100 feet below the water’s surface.

Lee Gyeong-og, a vice minister for South Korea’s Public Administration and Security Ministry, said that:

“Almost  30 crew members, 325 high school students, 15 school teachers and 89 non-student passengers were aboard the ship.”