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South Korea ferry disaster: Sewol captain arrested South Korea ferry disaster: Sewol captain arrested
(35 minutes later)
The captain of a South Korean ferry that capsized and sank this week has been arrested. The captain of a South Korean ferry that capsized and sank this week has been arrested, with two crew members.
Lee Joon-seok, 69, faces charges including negligence of duty and violation of maritime law, prosecutors and coastguard officials said. Lee Joon-seok, 69, faces charges including negligence of duty and violation of maritime law.
A local court had earlier issued arrest warrants for him and two other crew members on the charges. Amid suggestions he delayed evacuation, Mr Lee said that he feared passengers would "drift away" if they left the ferry "without proper judgement".
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.
Divers early on Saturday saw what appeared to be bodies in a part of the ship but visibility remains poor and none were retrieved.
Twenty-eight people are now known to have died in the disaster, with 179 rescued.Twenty-eight people are now known to have died in the disaster, with 179 rescued.
The ferry Sewol was sailing from Incheon, in the north-west, to the southern resort island of Jeju. It capsized and sank within two hours.The ferry Sewol was sailing from Incheon, in the north-west, to the southern resort island of Jeju. It capsized and sank within two hours.
'Sorry and ashamed'
Mr Lee, who had already been questioned by police, was shown on television on Thursday, his face partially obscured, apologising to the victims and their relatives.
"I am really sorry and deeply ashamed. I don't know what to say," he said.
It has emerged that a junior officer - and not the captain - was at the helm of the ferry when it capsized.
Investigations are focusing on the sharp turn the vessel took before it started listing and whether an evacuation order could have saved lives.Investigations are focusing on the sharp turn the vessel took before it started listing and whether an evacuation order could have saved lives.
Footage from the ship appeared to show instructions from crew members for passengers to remain on the ship even as it it tilted dramatically to one side.
Officials say it is unlikely anyone else has survived.
'Drift away'
Mr Lee, who had already been questioned by police, was shown on television on Saturday after his arrest.
"I am sorry to the people of South Korea for causing a disturbance and I bow my head in apology to the families of the victims" he said.
"I gave instructions regarding the route, then I briefly went to the bedroom and then [the sinking] happened" he said.
"The current was very strong, the temperature of the ocean water was cold, and I thought that if people left the ferry without proper judgement, if they were not wearing a life jacket, and even if they were, they would drift away and face many other difficulties." he said.
He added that rescue boats had not arrived at the time of capsizing.
The helmsman at the time, Cho Joon-ki, was also among those arrested. He said that the ship reacted differently to what he had expected.
"There was a mistake on my behalf as well but the steering [gear of the ship] turned further than it was supposed to," he told reporters.
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.
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 sharply-listing ferry.Messages and phone calls from those inside painted a picture of people trapped in crowded corridors, unable to escape the sharply-listing ferry.
Earlier on Friday, coastguard officials said that two divers had managed to enter the cargo bay of the vessel, but could not identify or rescue anyone because of items obstructing their way. Officials say air has been pumped into the ship to aid any people trapped inside and to help refloat the vessel.
Officials say air has been pumped into the ship to aid any people trapped inside and to help refloat the vessel. But officials say it is unlikely anyone has survived.
Three salvage cranes have reached the site and they may be used to raise the ship or move it to another area with weaker currents.Three salvage cranes have reached the site and they may be used to raise the ship or move it to another area with weaker currents.
But challenging conditions hampered the search for a third consecutive day.
Vice-principal found deadVice-principal found dead
Some 350 of those on board were students from Danwon High School in Ansan, a suburb of Seoul, who were on a school 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 a school outing when the ferry sank.
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 - 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 - where many of the relatives of missing passengers have been staying.
At the high school in Ansan, friends and family of the missing gathered on Friday.At the high school in Ansan, friends and family of the missing gathered on Friday.
"When I first received the call telling me the news, at that time I still had hope," said Cho Kyung-mi, waiting for news of her missing 16-year-old nephew at the school. "And now it's all gone.""When I first received the call telling me the news, at that time I still had hope," said Cho Kyung-mi, waiting for news of her missing 16-year-old nephew at the school. "And now it's all gone."
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'.
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