The search is still on for hundreds of missing passengers that were aboard a ferry that sank off the Southern coast of South Korea. As of Thursday night Korean time, 179 passengers had been rescued and at least nine have been confirmed dead. A rescue crew of at least four hundred is searching the area for the remaining passengers. There were about 475 people aboard when the ship left port.
Questionable Circumstances
The details of the accident that caused the ferry to become unstable and eventually sink are unclear, but Captain Lee Joon Suk is being interrogated. When asked by reporters if he had anything to say about the tragedy, the captain burst into tears. Witnesses that were aboard the ship when the ship became unstable say that the captain ordered passengers to don life jackets, but told them to stay put in their quarters. If the passengers had been evacuated instead of given the order to stay, many believe that more passengers may have escaped before the ship sank. While the evacuation order was given about 30 minutes after the ship began experiencing complications, the captain may have failed to announce the evacuation over the P.A. system, amidst the chaos.
While there is some chance of survival for the remaining passengers, the ocean water is about 57 degrees, which can cause hypothermia. Rescue crews expect any survivors recovered at this time to require emergency medical treatment. The rescue operation has been hindered by strong winds, currents, and poor visibility.