Posted 17/4/2014
April 16, 2014 - The search for
survivors, after a ferry carrying 462 people sank off South Korea's
southern coast, continued on Wednesday evening.
Despite a frantic, hours-long rescue by dozens of ships and helicopters, at least 283 people were still missing by night time.
At least four people have been confirmed dead and 55 injured.
The high number of people unaccounted for, likely trapped in the ship or floating in the ocean, raised fears that the death toll could rise drastically, making it one of South Korea's biggest ferry disasters since 1993, when 292 people died.
Sixteen divers approached the ferry on Wednesday night but failed to get inside because the current was too strong, according to the coast guard.
The water was very muddy and visibility was poor, but navy and coast guard divers planned to make another approach after midnight.
The water temperature in the area was about 12 degrees Celsius (54 Fahrenheit), cold enough to cause signs of hypothermia after about 1.5 hours of exposure, according to an emergency official.
Relatives of the missing passengers, waiting for news of the loved ones, gathered at the nearby Paengmok Dock.
Despite a frantic, hours-long rescue by dozens of ships and helicopters, at least 283 people were still missing by night time.
At least four people have been confirmed dead and 55 injured.
The high number of people unaccounted for, likely trapped in the ship or floating in the ocean, raised fears that the death toll could rise drastically, making it one of South Korea's biggest ferry disasters since 1993, when 292 people died.
Sixteen divers approached the ferry on Wednesday night but failed to get inside because the current was too strong, according to the coast guard.
The water was very muddy and visibility was poor, but navy and coast guard divers planned to make another approach after midnight.
The water temperature in the area was about 12 degrees Celsius (54 Fahrenheit), cold enough to cause signs of hypothermia after about 1.5 hours of exposure, according to an emergency official.
Relatives of the missing passengers, waiting for news of the loved ones, gathered at the nearby Paengmok Dock.
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