SOUTH KOREA:At least two dead and 300 people missing as massive ferry sinks off South Korea

At least two dead and 300
people missing as massive
ferry sinks off South Korea
with 470 passengers on
board including hundreds of
high school children
By Sarah Dean and Wills Robinson
06:07 16 Apr 2014, updated 09:53 16 Apr
2014
Dozens of boats, helicopters and
divers scrambled to rescue more than
470 people Wednesday, including the
teenagers who were on a school trip
The ferry was sailing to the southern
island of Jeju when it sent a distress
call around 8:58a.m. local time
Wednesday after it began leaning to
one side
The government said about 95
percent of the ship was submerged
A 27-year-old woman named Park Ji-
yeong and high school student Jeong
Cha Woong were identified as the
dead
Officials said 368 passengers had
been rescued so far
It's not clear what caused the
massive ferry to capsize though it
may have sailed into rocks in foggy
conditions
'Many more than 100 said to be
missing'
A huge rescue operation has managed to
save more than 368 people including
hundreds of terrified high school children
from a sinking South Korean passenger
ferry after half the ship began dangerously
submerging into the sea on Wednesday.
At least two people - an employee of the
boat company and a student - were killed
and 14 passengers were injured as the ship
sank, officials confirmed.
Dozens of boats, helicopters and divers
scrambled to rescue more than 470 people
were were aboard the 6,825-ton ferry.
Officials said 164 people have been rescued
so far, but the South Korean coast guard
fear the number of casualties could rise as
they continue to drag passengers out of the
water.
The ferry was sailing to the southern island
of Jeju when it sent a distress call
Wednesday morning after it began leaning
to one side, according to the Ministry of
Security and Public Administration.
Coast guard footage showed the vessel
submerged with only its bow visible 12
miles from Byeongpoong island off the
southwest corner of the Korean peninsula.
The government said about 95 percent of
the ship was submerged.

The Ministry of Security and Public

Administration named 27-year-old woman

Park Ji-yeong, a female employee of the

boat operator and high school student

Jeong Cha Woong as the victims, according

to Bloomberg .

One of the officers - both of whom spoke on

condition of anonymity citing department

rules - said 368 passengers had been

rescued so far, but gave no further details,

including what caused the ferry to sink or

the conditions of the other passengers.