BREAKING: Sinking South Korean Ferry with 470 Passengers on Board

By Admin on April 16, 2014 • ( Leave a comment )

A part of a South Korean passenger ship that has been sinking, is seen at the sea off Jindo

A major rescue operation is under way after a ferry carrying more than 470 people sank off South Korea.

The ferry, carrying mainly school students, was travelling from Incheon to the southern resort island of Jeju.

One person had died and almost 180 more had been rescued, officials said. Other passengers were told to jump into the sea to await rescue.

A total of 34 naval, coastguard and civilian ships were involved in rescue efforts, as well as 18 helicopters.

Images showed the ferry listing at a severe angle and then later largely submerged, with only a small part of its hull visible.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye had ordered coast guard commandos to search the ship so that no-one was left behind, Yonhap news agency reported. Navy divers were also reportedly on scene.

“A total 179 people had been officially rescued as of 12:00 (03:00GMT),” Yonhap news agency quoted Lee Jae-youl, a Ministry of Security and Public Administration official, as saying.

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