S. Korea Ferry Death Toll Nears 150, Search for Victims Continues
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Date: 4/23/2014 7:41:16 AM
Sender: VOA
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FILE - Searchers and divers look for people believed to have been trapped in the sunken ferry boat Sewol near the buoys which were installed to mark the vessel in the water off the southern coast near Jindo, south of Seoul, South Korea, April 22, 2014.
The confirmed death toll from the South Korean ferry disaster climbed to 146 Wednesday, one week since the passenger boat capsized off the country＇s southwest coast.
Divers are slowly working their way through the third and fourth floors of the Sewol ferry. The boat is submerged upside down in murky waters and surrounded by a strong ocean current.
Coast Guard official Ko Myung-suk said divers will soon be helped by the arrival of high-tech underwater search equipment.
"We＇re planning to mobilize a multi-legged underwater robot and a side scan sonar. This means that we will mobilize various equipment and methods as much as we can, if it is going to help with the rescue operation," said Ko.
More than 150 other passengers are missing and presumed dead, bringing the expected final death toll to around 300. That would make it South Korea＇s worst ferry disaster in two decades.
After the bodies are recovered, they are brought to nearby Jindo island. Inside the tents where the corpses are held, cries can be heard each time a relative identifies a victim.
The disaster has shocked South Korea. There is widespread public anger at the crew of the ship for abandoning the vessel before the evacuation was completed.
The captain was not operating the vessel at the time of the sinking, leaving an inexperienced third-mate in charge. The captain and six crew members are under arrest. President Park Geun-hye has said their actions were "tantamount to murder."
The crew has said they were reluctant to evacuate the passengers because they feared they would not survive the cold waters and strong ocean current. They also say the ship was listing heavily, making it hard to free lifeboats.
The Sewol was carrying 476 passengers. Most were high school students who were headed for an outing on the resort island of Jeju.
Authorities are still investigating why the 6,800-ton boat capsized. Tracking data shows it made a sharp turn and began leaning heavily to one side before beginning to sink.
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