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Two dead and mass rescue under way as ferry with 476 aboard sinks off South Korea South Korea ferry sinks: More than 100 missing as mass rescue gets underway
(35 minutes later)
Dozens of boats, helicopters and divers scrambled to rescue more than 470 people, including 325 high school students on a trip, as a ferry sank off South Korea's southern coast, officials said. More than 100 people are still unaccounted for several hours after a ferry carrying 476 people, most of them high school students, sank in cold waters off South Korea's southern coast, killing at least two and injuring 14.
At least two people died and 14 were said to have been injured. There were fears of a big jump in the number of deaths, as dozens of boats, helicopters and divers scrambled to rescue passengers who had been on the ferry travelling to the southern island of Jeju.
The ferry, with 476 people on board, was sailing to the southern island of Jeju when it sent a distress call after it began leaning to one side, according to the Ministry of Security and Public Administration. One rescued passenger said he believed many people were trapped inside the ferry when it sank.
The government said about 95 per cent of the ship was submerged. More than 30 navy and coastguard divers are searching the near-sunken ship for survivors, according to emergency officials.
Two coastguard officers said a 27-year-old woman named Park Ji-yeong and another unidentified person had died. One of the officers said 180 passengers had been rescued so far, but gave no further details, including what caused the ferry to sink or the conditions of the other passengers. The vessel sent a distress call after it began listing, according to the Ministry of Security and Public Administration. The government said about 95 per cent of the ferry, whose passengers included 325 high school students on a trip to the popular tourist island, was submerged.
A student, Lim Hyung-min, told broadcaster YTN from a gym on a nearby island that he jumped into the ocean wearing a life jacket with other students and then swam to a nearby rescue boat. Two coastguard officers said a 27-year-old woman named Park Ji-yeong and another unidentified person had died. The government said five hours after the distress call that 368 of the 476 passengers had been rescued, but officials gave no further details, including what caused the ferry to sink or the conditions of the other passengers. South Korea coast guard head to stricken passengers aboard the sinking ship
“As the ship was shaking and tilting, we all tripped and bumped into each another,” Lim said, adding that some people were bleeding. Once he jumped, the ocean “was so cold. I was hurrying, thinking that I wanted to live”. Photos showed wet students wrapped in blankets as emergency workers tended to them.
Local media ran photos showing the partially submerged ship listing dramatically as helicopters flew overhead and rescue vessels and a small boat covered with an orange tarpaulin floated nearby. South Korea coast guard head to stricken passengers aboard the sinking ship One student, Lim Hyung-min, told broadcaster YTN from a gym on a nearby island that he jumped into the ocean wearing a life jacket with other students and then swam to a nearby rescue boat.
Passenger Kim Seong-mok, speaking from a nearby island after his rescue, told YTN that he was “certain” people were trapped inside the ship as water quickly filled up inside and the severe tilt of the ferry kept them from reaching the exits. "As the ferry was shaking and tilting, we all tripped and bumped into each another," Lim said, adding that some people were bleeding. Once he jumped, the ocean "was so cold. I was hurrying, thinking that I wanted to live".
Some people yelled at those who could not get out, urging them to break windows.
Kim said that after having breakfast he felt the ferry tilt and then heard it crash into something. He said the ferry operator made an announcement asking that passengers wait and not move from their places. Kim said he did not hear any announcement telling passengers to escape.
The water temperature in the area was about 12C, cold enough to cause signs of hypothermia after about 90 minutes, according to an emergency official.The water temperature in the area was about 12C, cold enough to cause signs of hypothermia after about 90 minutes, according to an emergency official.
The students are from a high school in Ansan city near Seoul and were on their way to Jeju island for a four-day trip, according to a relief team set up by Gyeonggi province, which governs the city. South Korea coast guard rescue passengers Local media ran photos showing the partially submerged ferry listing dramatically as helicopters flew overhead and rescue vessels and a small boat covered with an orange tarpaulin floated nearby.
The ferry left Incheon port, just west of Seoul, on Tuesday evening, according to the state-run Busan Regional Maritime Affairs & Port Administration. Passenger Kim Seong-mok, speaking from a nearby island after his rescue, told YTN he was "certain" that many people were trapped inside the ship as water quickly filled up inside and the severe tilt of the ferry kept them from reaching the exits.
Some people yelled at those who could not get out, urging them to break windows. South Korea coast guard rescue passengers
Kim said that after having breakfast he felt the ferry tilt and then heard it crash into something. He said the ferry operator made an announcement asking that passengers wait and not move from their places. Kim said he did not hear any announcement telling passengers to escape.
The students are from a high school in Ansan city near Seoul, and were on their way to Jeju island for a four-day trip, according to a relief team set up by Gyeonggi province, which governs the city. The ferry left Incheon port, just west of Seoul, on Tuesday evening, according to the state-run Busan Regional Maritime Affairs & Port Administration.
At the high school, students were sent home and parents gathered for news about the ferry.At the high school, students were sent home and parents gathered for news about the ferry.
Park Ji-hee, a first-year student, said she saw about a dozen parents crying at the school entrance and many cars and taxis gathered at the gate as she left in the morning.Park Ji-hee, a first-year student, said she saw about a dozen parents crying at the school entrance and many cars and taxis gathered at the gate as she left in the morning.
She said some students in her classroom began to cry as they saw the news on their mobile phones. Teachers tried to soothe them, saying that the students on the ferry would be fine. She said some students in her classroom began to cry as they saw the news on their mobile phones. Teachers tried to soothe them, saying the students on the ferry would be fine.
A total of 16 helicopters, 34 rescue vessels and navy divers were sent to the area, Lee Gyeong-og, a vice minister for South Korea's Public Administration and Security Ministry, told a televised news conference.A total of 16 helicopters, 34 rescue vessels and navy divers were sent to the area, Lee Gyeong-og, a vice minister for South Korea's Public Administration and Security Ministry, told a televised news conference.
He said president Park Geun-hye ordered a thorough rescue operation to prevent deaths. He said 14 had been injured so far, including one described as serious, and taken to hospital. He said 14 had been injured so far, including one described as serious, and taken to hospital.
More than 30 navy and coastguard divers are searching the near-sunken ship for survivors, according to emergency officials.
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