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S Korea ferry: Desperate search for survivors continues S Korea ferry: Desperate search for survivors continues
(about 2 hours later)
Emergency services are continuing to search for nearly 300 people missing after a ferry carrying more than 470 sank off South Korea. Emergency services are continuing to search for nearly 300 people missing after a ferry carrying more than 470 people sank off South Korea.
Officials say 179 people have been rescued. Most of the passengers on board were students and teachers from the same high school on a field trip. Officials say 179 people have been rescued. Most of the passengers were students from the same high school.
Emergency teams used floodlights to search for survivors overnight but divers were unable to enter the ship. Teams used lights to search overnight but strong currents have hampered divers' efforts to enter the ship, where it is thought many were trapped.
At least nine people are confirmed to have died, with dozens more injured.At least nine people are confirmed to have died, with dozens more injured.
The vessel was travelling from Incheon Port, in the north-west, to the southern resort island of Jeju. The vessel was travelling from Incheon port, in the north-west, to the southern resort island of Jeju.
South Korea's Yonhap news agency said the nine dead include four 17-year-old students and a 25-year-old teacher as well as a 22-year-old female crew member. Identities of the other three were not immediately known. It is not yet clear what caused the ship to list at a severe angle and flip over, leaving only a small part of its hull visible above water. The captain was being questioned, Yonhap news agency reported.
The latest figures say 475 people were on board with 287 still unaccounted for. Yonhap said the nine dead include four 17-year-old students and a 25-year-old teacher as well as a 22-year-old female crew member. Identities of the other three were not immediately known.
It is not yet clear what caused the ship to list at a severe angle and flip over, leaving only a small part of its hull visible above water. The latest figures say 475 people were on board, with 287 still unaccounted for. Figures issued by the government have changed several times, prompting criticism.
Rescue efforts are concentrated on the ship's wreckage, which sank in about 30m (98ft) of water. Many passengers are thought to be trapped inside.
Strong currentsStrong currents
Rescue efforts are concentrated on the ship, which sank in about 30m (100ft) of water.
"We carried out underwater searches five times from midnight until early in the morning, but strong currents and the murky water pose tremendous obstacles," said Kang Byung-kyu, minister for security and public administration.
One senior emergency official was quoted as saying it was unlikely the remaining passengers would be found alive.One senior emergency official was quoted as saying it was unlikely the remaining passengers would be found alive.
But the country's Prime Minister, Chung Hong-won, said there was not "a minute or a second to waste" in the search for survivors, urging those involved to do their utmost to save more lives. The US Navy has sent an amphibious assault ship, the USS Bonhomme Richard, to assist with the search.
He had water thrown at him as he visited angry relatives gathered at the port of Jindo, near to where the ferry capsized. Captain Joey Tynch told the BBC conditions were difficult.
Officials say the rescue operation involving coastguard, military and commercial vessels has been hampered by poor visibility and strong currents. "We found ourselves in challenging weather conditions today - very low cloud ceilings and reduced visibility and rain, and we're working a search area around the site in close co-ordination with the South Korean on-scene commander," he said.
"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. Prime Minister Chung Hong-won said on Wednesday that there was not "a minute or a second to waste" in the search for survivors, urging those involved to do their utmost to save more lives.
Divers trying to enter the ship overnight were unable to do so because of strong currents. He had water thrown at him as he visited angry relatives gathered at the port of Jindo, near to where the ferry capsized, early on Thursday.
The US Navy has sent an amphibious assault ship, the USS Bonhomme Richard, to assist with the search and it is standing by to provide support as requested. 'Screaming and scrambling'
Rain, strong winds and fog are forecast for Thursday, and may hamper further rescue efforts. The ferry sent a distress call at around 09:00 local time (00:00 GMT) on Wednesday, about 20km (12 miles) off the island of Byungpoong. It sank within two hours, reports said.
'Shaking and tilting' At least 325 of the passengers on board the ship were students from Danwon high school in Ansan, near the capital, Seoul.
At least 325 of the passengers on board the ship were students from Danwon high school in Ansan, near the capital, Seoul. The students, aged 16 and 17, were heading on a field trip to Jeju island with about 15 teachers. The students, aged 16 and 17, were heading on a field trip to Jeju island with about 15 teachers.
The ferry sent a distress call at around 09:00 local time (00:00 GMT) on Wednesday after it began to shake and take on water, about 20km (12 miles) off the island of Byungpoong.
Survivors say they heard a loud thud, before the boat began to shake and tilt.Survivors say they heard a loud thud, before the boat began to shake and tilt.
Some of the passengers managed to jump into the ocean, wearing life jackets and swim to nearby rescue boats and commercial vessels. Some of the passengers managed to jump into the ocean, wearing life jackets, and swim to nearby rescue boats and commercial vessels.
One student told local media they were instructed not to move as it was dangerous. But several survivors have said that they were told by crew members not to move.
"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," the unnamed student said. "We must have waited 30 to 40 minutes after the crew told us to stay put," one unnamed rescued student was quoted as saying by AFP news agency.
Local TV stations broadcast footage of the ferry listing and later sinking, within two hours of sending a distress signal. "Then everything tilted over and everyone started screaming and scrambling to get out," he said.
Images showed rescue teams pulling teenagers from cabin windows, as some of their classmates jumped into the sea. Koo Bon-hee, 36, told the Associated Press that the rescue was not "done well".
"If people had jumped into the water... they could have been rescued. But we were told not to go out."
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".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.Kim Young-boong, an official from the company which owns the ferry, has apologised.
As the disaster unfolded on Wednesday, there were conflicting accounts of the number of people rescued. Early reports suggested over 300 people had been plucked to safety but South Korean officials later revised this down.
The vessel - named Sewol - is reported to have a capacity of up to 900 people and is 146m (480ft) long.The vessel - named Sewol - is reported to have a capacity of up to 900 people and is 146m (480ft) long.
Correspondents say this could turn out to be South Korea's biggest maritime disaster for more than 20 years.Correspondents say this could turn out to be South Korea's biggest maritime disaster for more than 20 years.
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'.