Image credit: The Straits Times

With 9 confirmed dead and 287 still unaccounted for (mostly schoolchildren), this is South Korea’s worst maritime accident since 1993.

Update 25th April 2014 (Friday): As of 8.00am, the confirmed death toll stands at 181, with the remaining passengers unaccounted for and feared drowned.

South Korean ferry ‘Sewol’ was carrying 475 people on Tuesday evening, heading towards Jeju Island from Incheon, approximately 20km off the island of Byungpoong in Jindo. Most of them were Danwon high school students looking forward to a school trip to the popular resort island.

It is still unclear what caused the ferry to capsized, but some survivors described a loud noise and impact prior to the disaster:'We heard a big thumping sound and the boat stopped. The boat is tilting and we have to hold on to something to stay seated,” a passenger told broadcaster YTN.

It is not known why the 6,586 metric ton vessel, built in Japan 20 years ago, sank. A member of the rescue team said that the area was free of reefs or rocks, and the cause was likely to be some sort of malfunction on the vessel. Coordinates of the site of the accident indicated that it was not far off the regular shipping lane, dismissing reports that the ferry had veered off course.

The ferry was found to have three safety deficiencies in 2012, including one related to navigation, but passed subsequent safety checks in 2013 and 2014, according to international and Korean shipping records.

Image credit: Yonhap

A total of 18 helicopters and 34 naval, coast guards and civilian ships were involved in rescue efforts. However, choppy seas, persistent rain, strong currents and low visibility impeded rescue operations.

Watch the dramatic rescue operation of ferry passengers seen in aerial view off South Korea coast:

 

Heart-wrenching texts sent from the students added emotional weight to this tragedy that stunned the entire nation. Students on board sent messages to their loved ones, indicating that they feared that they would not make it out alive.

Translation: 'Mom, This might be my last chance to tell you I love you,' one student Shin Young Jin said in a text to his mother. His mother, who was unaware of the situation, replied “I love you too, why are you saying that?” Fortunately, this student was reported to be rescued.

Another girl texted her father “Dad, I can’t get out, the ship is slanted too much”. He replied “Well, try. Try to get out”. Her last text was “I can’t get out, there are no children in the corridors”.

According to reports, the ferry took about two hours to capsize, giving ample time for those on board to evacuate. However – passengers onboard the sinking ferry was given a terrifying choice as they were told to obey commands barked over loudspeaker to either stay in place, or don life vests and jump into the chilly ocean water.

This was believed to have cost the lives of many passengers who were unsure what to do. Many of those who took the initiative to do something – even jumping into the frigid ocean waters (12.6 degree celcius/55 degrees Fahrenheit), managed to find their way to the rescue boats:

'I had to swim a bit to get to the boat to be rescued,' Lim Hyung Min, one of more than 300 Seoul high school students who was aboard the ship for a four-day field trip, told CNN affiliate YTN. “The water was so cold and I wanted to live. I think most of the students are now rescued. I have 20 other students with me and many of us suffered from hypothermia but now we are OK because we got blankets.'

Rescued passengers crying - Photos: Reuters

A little girl rescued by South Korean maritime policemen - Photo: South Korea Coast Guard

'We were told to stay where you are, so we kept staying,' another survivor Hyun Hung Chang told YTN. 'But later on, the water level came up. So we were beside ourselves. Kids were screaming out of terror, shouting for help.'

Rescued passenger Koo Bonn-hee, 36, said that many people were trapped inside by windows that were too hard to break.  'If people had jumped into the water ... they could have been rescued. But we were told not to go out.'

Ms Park Ji Young (photo above), a 22-year-old ferry crew member had tragically lost her life while helping passengers find their way out. A survivor told the media that Ms Park wasn’t wearing a life jacket – and said she would only get out of the ship after ensuring everyone was out. Even when the water was up to her chest level, that did not deter Ms Park from directing passengers towards the exit.

Mr Jeong Cha Woong, a 17 year old high school student is hailed a hero after helping his friends escape the ship. He wasn’t as fortunate – he lost his life after giving his life vest to a drowning friend, and hurling himself into the water to try rescuing others.

Mr Kim Hong Gyeong was luckier – he made a 10m long rope out of the curtains, and used it to drag up several passengers, even when the water was treacherously above knee level then. He persisted on, saving more than 20 people. After which, he boarded a fishing boat that volunteered in rescue operations.

The captain of the ship, Lee Joon-Seok, 69 faces a criminal investigation as unconfirmed reports stated that he was amongst the first few to jump to safety from the stricken vessel. 

 

SD Editor's note: Our hearts and prayers are with the families of the passengers and crew. We hope and pray with those who are still waiting for news that their loved ones will be found safe.