Massive Rescue Operation Underway in South Korea

Reuters
According to the Coast Guard officials, the 6,325-ton vessel named Sewol was carrying around 477 people, including 325 students from a high school in Ansan, just south of Seoul, when it sent out a distress signal at 8:58 a.m. in waters 20 kilometers off the island of Byeongpoong.
Latest reports show that at least two persons had been killed, a 27-year-old female crew member and a high school student. Around 200 people had been taken to safety while the rescue continues for the remaining passengers and crew.
Numerous rescue boats, navy ships, civil vessels and helicopters are racing against time to save the missing passengers. Divers from the navys ship salvage unit (SSU) were also mobilized to search the sunken ship, officials said.
The cause of the incident is still unknown, but according to the eyewitnesses the ferry hit something before she listed and quickly sank.
 

World Maritime News Staff, April 16, 2014