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| South Korean ferry rescue runs into trouble | South Korean ferry rescue runs into trouble |
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| JINDO, South Korea — An urgent operation to pull possible survivors from a submerged ferry ran into trouble Thursday, with divers unable to pry their way into the vessel and passengers’ relatives terrified about what the delay might mean. | JINDO, South Korea — An urgent operation to pull possible survivors from a submerged ferry ran into trouble Thursday, with divers unable to pry their way into the vessel and passengers’ relatives terrified about what the delay might mean. |
| “My kid is dying out there,” said Christine Kim, whose daughter is among the nearly 300 still unaccounted for. | “My kid is dying out there,” said Christine Kim, whose daughter is among the nearly 300 still unaccounted for. |
| A series of aborted and failed rescue missions compounded the agony among family members awaiting news on a nearby island and made for a grim waiting game in what is shaping up as one of South Korea’s worst peacetime disasters. As of early evening, no survivors had been pulled from the ferry Thursday, despite more than 500 professional divers and 100 vessels at the scene. | A series of aborted and failed rescue missions compounded the agony among family members awaiting news on a nearby island and made for a grim waiting game in what is shaping up as one of South Korea’s worst peacetime disasters. As of early evening, no survivors had been pulled from the ferry Thursday, despite more than 500 professional divers and 100 vessels at the scene. |
| South Korean officials said powerful currents and poor visibility were hampering the rescue in an area known for its bedeviling waters. Aerial footage showed the 6,835-ton Sewol almost entirely submerged in the Yellow Sea — only its blue bow was sticking out — as whitecaps washed over its hull. | South Korean officials said powerful currents and poor visibility were hampering the rescue in an area known for its bedeviling waters. Aerial footage showed the 6,835-ton Sewol almost entirely submerged in the Yellow Sea — only its blue bow was sticking out — as whitecaps washed over its hull. |
| Kang Byung-kyu, a minister for security and public administration, said during a news briefing that the currents and murky water posed “tremendous obstacles.” | Kang Byung-kyu, a minister for security and public administration, said during a news briefing that the currents and murky water posed “tremendous obstacles.” |
| “We will do our best,” Kang said, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency. | “We will do our best,” Kang said, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency. |
| After 1 p.m., the diving operation was put on hold, Yonhap said. | After 1 p.m., the diving operation was put on hold, Yonhap said. |
| Some 36 hours after the ferry began to list, South Korean officials say nine people were confirmed dead, 179 had been rescued and 287 were missing. But Seoul has provided conflicting figures at various points in the search while drawing growing criticism for its response. South Korean media is reporting that 14 people are dead and 282 people are missing. | |
| Police say they’ve checked cellphone records of missing passengers and determined that none have made calls or sent texts after the ferry sank, according to the Yonhap news agency. | |
| Relatives of those on board have gathered at a gymnasium in Jindo, an island off the southwestern coast of the Korean Peninsula, where they have spread out on blankets, packed the bleachers, and have tried to deal with dread and uncertainty. Some on Thursday were wailing. Some were furious. Some watched a large projector screen showing a news television feed. A few, shocked and tired, were hooked up to intravenous drips as they lay on temporary beds. | Relatives of those on board have gathered at a gymnasium in Jindo, an island off the southwestern coast of the Korean Peninsula, where they have spread out on blankets, packed the bleachers, and have tried to deal with dread and uncertainty. Some on Thursday were wailing. Some were furious. Some watched a large projector screen showing a news television feed. A few, shocked and tired, were hooked up to intravenous drips as they lay on temporary beds. |
| When South Korea’s prime minister visited the gym just after midnight Thursday, he was sprayed with water. Another relative tossed a shoe at him. Thursday afternoon, when South Korean President Park Geun-hye and another official held an impromptu meeting with the crowd, parents of the high schoolers on board screamed that divers were not in the water trying to help. | When South Korea’s prime minister visited the gym just after midnight Thursday, he was sprayed with water. Another relative tossed a shoe at him. Thursday afternoon, when South Korean President Park Geun-hye and another official held an impromptu meeting with the crowd, parents of the high schoolers on board screamed that divers were not in the water trying to help. |
| “Time is running out,” one said. | “Time is running out,” one said. |
| When another parent demanded that Park notify her of search updates on his cellphone, she said that was okay and asked for his number. | When another parent demanded that Park notify her of search updates on his cellphone, she said that was okay and asked for his number. |
| “I am very much concerned that rescue efforts are slow even though so many personnel and equipment were mobilized,” Park was quoted by South Korean media as saying during a Coast Guard tour of the rescue site. | “I am very much concerned that rescue efforts are slow even though so many personnel and equipment were mobilized,” Park was quoted by South Korean media as saying during a Coast Guard tour of the rescue site. |
| Some of the initial criticism has been cast at the ferry’s captain, Lee Joon-seok, who was one of the first to abandon the vessel. Another member of the crew, Oh Yong-seok, told the Associated Press on Thursday that the captain did not give evacuation orders to passengers when the ferry began to perilously tilt toward its side. | Some of the initial criticism has been cast at the ferry’s captain, Lee Joon-seok, who was one of the first to abandon the vessel. Another member of the crew, Oh Yong-seok, told the Associated Press on Thursday that the captain did not give evacuation orders to passengers when the ferry began to perilously tilt toward its side. |
| Instead, Lee instructed passengers to put on life vests and stay put. Only 30 minutes later did he give orders to abandon ship, but Oh said it was possible that message was not relayed on the public address system. | Instead, Lee instructed passengers to put on life vests and stay put. Only 30 minutes later did he give orders to abandon ship, but Oh said it was possible that message was not relayed on the public address system. |
| Lee appeared in front of reporters Thursday wearing an ash-gray hooded sweatshirt, which he closed tight to obscure his face. Lee said he was “deeply ashamed” for what had happened. South Korean media reported that he is being interviewed by police. | Lee appeared in front of reporters Thursday wearing an ash-gray hooded sweatshirt, which he closed tight to obscure his face. Lee said he was “deeply ashamed” for what had happened. South Korean media reported that he is being interviewed by police. |
| Among the 475 on board, 325 were students from a high school in Ansan, just south of Seoul. The vessel departed from Incheon, a major port, and was bound for Jeju — a popular southern island — in what would have been a 13-hour, 30-minute journey. Survivors say the ferry was jolted by a loud noise when it was about three hours from its destination. It then began to tilt to one side. And within two hours, it was upside-down and submerged. | Among the 475 on board, 325 were students from a high school in Ansan, just south of Seoul. The vessel departed from Incheon, a major port, and was bound for Jeju — a popular southern island — in what would have been a 13-hour, 30-minute journey. Survivors say the ferry was jolted by a loud noise when it was about three hours from its destination. It then began to tilt to one side. And within two hours, it was upside-down and submerged. |
| South Korean authorities have not indicated any signs of foul play, and some experts say the incident could stem from a collision with a rock or other object. According to Yonhap, a coast guard official said at a news briefing that the ferry “took a path slightly different” from the route recommended by the Maritime Affairs Ministry. Koh Myung-seok, the coast guard official, also said the vessel made a sharp turn where it is supposed to make a gradual one, possibly knocking some of the cargo out of place. | South Korean authorities have not indicated any signs of foul play, and some experts say the incident could stem from a collision with a rock or other object. According to Yonhap, a coast guard official said at a news briefing that the ferry “took a path slightly different” from the route recommended by the Maritime Affairs Ministry. Koh Myung-seok, the coast guard official, also said the vessel made a sharp turn where it is supposed to make a gradual one, possibly knocking some of the cargo out of place. |
| Those who are still unaccounted for are thought to be trapped in the ship. Some at the gymnasium tried to make phone calls to their children, hoping for a sign of life. | Those who are still unaccounted for are thought to be trapped in the ship. Some at the gymnasium tried to make phone calls to their children, hoping for a sign of life. |
| The mother of one teenager on board said she received a call around 8:52 a.m. on the morning of the accident from her daughter, Yoon Sol, who told her that the ship was shaking. The mother, who did not give her name, said she told her daughter to be calm and listen to instructions. | The mother of one teenager on board said she received a call around 8:52 a.m. on the morning of the accident from her daughter, Yoon Sol, who told her that the ship was shaking. The mother, who did not give her name, said she told her daughter to be calm and listen to instructions. |
| “Sol was very excited about her school trip to Jeju. All I want is their safe return,” she said. | “Sol was very excited about her school trip to Jeju. All I want is their safe return,” she said. |
| “I will wait here until I see my daughter whether dead or alive,” Yoon’s father said. “I’ll take her body safely home.” | |
| Harlan reported from Minamisanriku, Japan. | Harlan reported from Minamisanriku, Japan. |