South Korean ferry sank

South Korean rescuers and dive teams worked frantically under floodlights as fears rose for nearly 300 people missing after a ferry sank on Wednesday the 16th April, 2014 with 462 on board, mostly high school students bound for a holiday island.

National disaster agency officials said 174 people had been rescued, leaving 284 “unaccounted for.” There were four confirmed deaths, including a female crew member and a student.

There are concerns the death toll could rise sharply. The 6,825-tonne Sewol listed violently, capsized and finally sank — all within two hours of sending a distress signal at 9 a.m. (0000 GMT).

Search continuing

As night fell the coastguard said the rescue operation was continuing using floodlights and underwater flares. Several rescued passengers said they had initially been told to remain in their cabins and seats, but then the ferry listed hard to one side, triggering panic.

The arrested captain of the South Korean ferry that capsized three days ago with 476 people on board defended his decision to delay its evacuation, as divers on Saturday the 19th April, 2014 finally accessed the submerged vessel and spotted bodies inside.

Investigators arrested Lee Joon-Seok and two of his crew early in the morning. All three have been criticised for abandoning hundreds of passengers trapped in the ferry, as they made their own escape.

Mr. Lee was charged with negligence and failing to secure the safety of passengers in violation of maritime law.

Twenty-nine people have been confirmed dead in the disaster, but 273 are still missing — most of them children on a high school holiday trip.

As the arrests were being made, dive teams who had spent two days vainly battling powerful currents and near zero visibility, finally penetrated the passenger decks of the 6,825-tonne Sewol.

Captain Lee was arraigned along with the two officers in charge of the bridge at the time.

Questioned as to why passengers had been ordered not to move for more than 40 minutes after the ship first foundered, Captain Lee said it was a safety measure.

Experts have suggested many more people might have escaped if they had moved to reach evacuation points earlier.

Only 174 were rescued when the ferry sank and no new survivors have been found since Wednesday.

Initial questioning of the captain has focused on what actually caused the ferry to sink. Captain Lee confirmed he was not at the helm when the ship ran into trouble.

The ship was being steered by a 55-year-old helmsman identified by his surname Jo, under the supervision of the female third officer.