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South Korea seeks arrest of Sewol ferry captain | South Korea seeks arrest of Sewol ferry captain |
(about 20 hours later) | |
Prosecutors in South Korea have asked a court to issue an arrest warrant for the captain of the ferry that sank on Wednesday, officials say. | Prosecutors in South Korea have asked a court to issue an arrest warrant for the captain of the ferry that sank on Wednesday, officials say. |
It was earlier revealed that a junior officer - and not the captain - was at the helm of the ferry when it capsized. | It was earlier revealed that a junior officer - and not the captain - was at the helm of the ferry when it capsized. |
Efforts to find the 268 people still missing have been hampered by low visibility and strong currents. | Efforts to find the 268 people still missing have been hampered by low visibility and strong currents. |
Twenty-eight people are now known to have died in the disaster, with 179 people rescued. | Twenty-eight people are now known to have died in the disaster, with 179 people rescued. |
Coast guard officials said on Friday two divers managed to enter the cargo bay of the vessel, but could not identify or rescue anyone due to items obstructing the way. | Coast guard officials said on Friday two divers managed to enter the cargo bay of the vessel, but could not identify or rescue anyone due to items obstructing the way. |
Wrong manoeuvre? | Wrong manoeuvre? |
The vessel - named Sewol - had been travelling from Incheon, in the north-west, to the southern resort island of Jeju. It capsized and sank within a period of two hours, officials said. | The vessel - named Sewol - had been travelling from Incheon, in the north-west, to the southern resort island of Jeju. It capsized and sank within a period of two hours, officials said. |
Some 350 of those on board were students from Danwon High School in Ansan, a suburb of Seoul, who were on an outing when the ferry sank. | Some 350 of those on board were students from Danwon High School in Ansan, a suburb of Seoul, who were on an outing when the ferry sank. |
Investigations are focusing on the sharp turn the vessel took before it started listing and whether an evacuation order by the captain could have saved lives. | Investigations are focusing on the sharp turn the vessel took before it started listing and whether an evacuation order by the captain could have saved lives. |
Some experts believe such a tight turn could have dislodged heavy cargo and destabilised the vessel, while others suggest it could have been caused by a collision with a rock. | Some experts believe such a tight turn could have dislodged heavy cargo and destabilised the vessel, while others suggest it could have been caused by a collision with a rock. |
In addition to the captain, arrest warrants are also being sought for two other crew members, reports say. | In addition to the captain, arrest warrants are also being sought for two other crew members, reports say. |
"The joint investigation team of police and prosecutors asked for warrants to arrest three crew, including the captain," a coast guard official in Makpo told AFP. | "The joint investigation team of police and prosecutors asked for warrants to arrest three crew, including the captain," a coast guard official in Makpo told AFP. |
Captain Lee Joon-seok, who has already been quizzed by police, was shown on television on Thursday apologising to the victims and their relatives. | Captain Lee Joon-seok, who has already been quizzed by police, was shown on television on Thursday apologising to the victims and their relatives. |
"I am really sorry and deeply ashamed. I don't know what to say," he said. | "I am really sorry and deeply ashamed. I don't know what to say," he said. |
Details of the charges have not yet been made public. | Details of the charges have not yet been made public. |
Challenging conditions | Challenging conditions |
The vice principal of Danwon High School, who was rescued from the ferry, was found dead on nearby Jindo island on Friday. | The vice principal of Danwon High School, who was rescued from the ferry, was found dead on nearby Jindo island on Friday. |
Kang Min-Kyu, 52, had been missing since Thursday and was discovered hanging from a tree near the gym on Jindo island - where many of the relatives of missing passengers have been staying. | Kang Min-Kyu, 52, had been missing since Thursday and was discovered hanging from a tree near the gym on Jindo island - where many of the relatives of missing passengers have been staying. |
Amid a major search and rescue operation, officials say air has been injected into the ship to help any people trapped inside - though officials have said that survivors are unlikely - and to help refloat the vessel. | Amid a major search and rescue operation, officials say air has been injected into the ship to help any people trapped inside - though officials have said that survivors are unlikely - and to help refloat the vessel. |
Three salvage cranes have reached the site, which officials say may be used to raise the ship or move it to another area with weaker currents. | Three salvage cranes have reached the site, which officials say may be used to raise the ship or move it to another area with weaker currents. |
But challenging conditions have hampered the search for a third consecutive day. | But challenging conditions have hampered the search for a third consecutive day. |
"Visibility is almost non-existent. You can hardly see your hand in front of your face," one diver told AFP news agency after returning from a trip. | "Visibility is almost non-existent. You can hardly see your hand in front of your face," one diver told AFP news agency after returning from a trip. |
State prosecutor Park Jae-Eok earlier told journalists that the third officer was in command of steering the ship when the accident took place. | State prosecutor Park Jae-Eok earlier told journalists that the third officer was in command of steering the ship when the accident took place. |
"Though surviving crews have different testimonies about the situation, we've been investigating the captain as he was suspected to leave the steering room for an unknown reason," Mr Park added. | "Though surviving crews have different testimonies about the situation, we've been investigating the captain as he was suspected to leave the steering room for an unknown reason," Mr Park added. |
But former ferry Captain Malcolm Shakesby told the BBC this was not uncommon. | But former ferry Captain Malcolm Shakesby told the BBC this was not uncommon. |
"Depending on whether or not is was in pilotage waters, then yes, the master would be expected to be on the bridge, but if it wasn't in pilotage waters it's a common practice for one of the officers to be doing navigation," he said. | "Depending on whether or not is was in pilotage waters, then yes, the master would be expected to be on the bridge, but if it wasn't in pilotage waters it's a common practice for one of the officers to be doing navigation," he said. |
Survivors have accused the crew of instructing them to remain where they were rather than evacuate the ship. | Survivors have accused the crew of instructing them to remain where they were rather than evacuate the ship. |
Messages and phone calls from those inside painted a picture of people trapped in crowded corridors, unable to escape the severely-listing ferry. | Messages and phone calls from those inside painted a picture of people trapped in crowded corridors, unable to escape the severely-listing ferry. |
Their relatives, who have endured a long wait for news, released a statement on Friday calling for more urgent action. | Their relatives, who have endured a long wait for news, released a statement on Friday calling for more urgent action. |
"Our children would be shouting for help in the freezing water... Please help us save our children," a representative of the families said. | "Our children would be shouting for help in the freezing water... Please help us save our children," a representative of the families said. |