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South Korea ferry rescue under way South Korea ferry rescue under way
(35 minutes later)
A major rescue operation is under way after a ferry carrying 476 people capsized off South Korea. A major rescue operation is under way after a ferry carrying 476 people capsized and then sank off South Korea.
The ferry, carrying mainly school students, was travelling from Incheon to the southern resort island of Jeju, officials said. The ferry, carrying mainly school students, was travelling from Incheon to the southern resort island of Jeju.
More than 50 ships and helicopters were at the scene to rescue passengers. One person had died and almost 150 more had been rescued, officials said. Other passengers were told to jump into the sea to await rescue.
One person has died and almost 150 have been rescued so far. Reports say remaining passengers have been 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 from the scene showed the ferry listing at a severe angle and then largely submerged. Images showed the ferry listing at a severe angle and then later largely submerged, with only a small part of its hull visible.
So far, a total of 147 people have been rescued, South Korean officials said. 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 of 34 naval, coastguard and civilian ships were involved in rescue efforts, as well as 18 helicopters, they said. So far, a total of 147 people had been rescued, South Korean officials said, out of the 452 passengers and 24 crewmen on board the vessel.
South Korean President Park Geun-hye had ordered coast guard commandos to be mobilised to search the ship so that no-one was left behind, Yonhap news agency reported. One body had been recovered from the ship, the coastguard said.
It is not yet clear what caused the incident, but Yonhap news agency reported that the ship had run aground. It is not yet clear what caused the incident, but witnesses described hearing an impact, before the ship listed and quickly sank.
"The ship is taking in water and sinking," a coastguard spokesman told AFP news agency by phone. One body had been recovered from the ship, the coastguard said.
One passenger told the YTN news channel: "We heard a big thumping sound and the boat stopped.One passenger told the YTN news channel: "We heard a big thumping sound and the boat stopped.
"The boat is tilting and we have to hold on to something to stay seated," the passenger said."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.
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).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).
It was bound for Jeju, a popular tourist destination, carrying mainly students from a school near the capital, Seoul.
Angry parents have gathered at the school to demand answers, reports the BBC's Lucy Williamson in Seoul.Angry parents have gathered at the school to demand answers, reports the BBC's Lucy Williamson in Seoul.
They are questioning why the ship was allowed to leave amid reports of bad weather, our correspondent says.
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.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.
Are you in the area? Do you have any information you would like to share? Please send us your comments. You can email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'South Korea ferry'.Are you in the area? Do you have any information you would like to share? Please send us your comments. You can email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'South Korea ferry'.