The South Korean Coast Guard warned many more are missing than the initial 100 announced, as dozens of boats, helicopters and divers scrambled to rescue passengers.
The Sewol ferry, which had been
carrying students from the Danwon high school in Ansan city near Seoul,
had been travelling from the north-western port of Incheon to the
popular southern tourist island of Jeju for a four day trip when it
capsized.
The Coast Guard said 164 people have been rescued so
far. One rescued passenger said he believed many others were trapped
inside the ferry when it sank.
South Korea's Ministry of Security
and Public Administration had reported that 368 people had been rescued
and about 100 were still missing but later said those numbers had been
miscalculated.
Emergency officials said at least 30 navy and
coastguard divers are searching the ship for survivors. The US Navy has
confirmed it will be sending a ship to join the rescue operation.
The
US Seventh Fleet said the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard,
which has helicopters on board, was on a routine patrol off South
Korea's west coast and was on its way to the scene of the accident.
The
Sewol vessel sent a distress call after it began listing, according to
the Ministry of Security and Public Administration. The government said
about 95 per cent of the ferry was submerged.
Two coastguard officers said a 27-year-old woman named Park Ji-yeong
and another unidentified person had died. Officials gave no further
details, including what caused the ferry to sink or the conditions of
the other passengers.
Images showed the ship listing at a severe
angle and after it sank. "There was a banging noise then the boat
suddenly started sinking," a rescued student was quoted by Yonhap News
as saying.
One student, Lim Hyung-min, told broadcaster YTN from a
gym on a nearby island that he jumped into the ocean wearing a life
jacket with other students and then swam to a nearby rescue boat.
South Korea Coast Guard members rescuing some of the 477 passengers and crew
"As the ferry was shaking and tilting, we all tripped and bumped into
each another," Lim said, adding that some people were bleeding.
The
water temperature in the area was about 12C, cold enough to cause signs
of hypothermia after about 90 minutes, according to an emergency
official.
Local media ran photos showing the partially submerged
ferry listing dramatically as helicopters flew overhead and rescue
vessels and a small boat covered with an orange tarpaulin floated
nearby.
Passenger Kim Seong-mok, speaking from a nearby island
after his rescue, told YTN he was "certain" that many people were
trapped inside the ship as water quickly filled up inside and the severe
tilt of the ferry kept them from reaching the exits.
Some people yelled at those who could not get out, urging them to break windows.
South Korea coast guard rescue passengers
Kim said that after having breakfast he felt the ferry tilt and
then heard it crash into something. He said the ferry operator made an
announcement asking that passengers wait and not move from their places.
Kim said he did not hear any announcement telling passengers to escape.
Parents have been waiting anxiously at the Danwon high school for news about the ferry.
A
total of 16 helicopters, 34 rescue vessels and navy divers were sent to
the area, Lee Gyeong-og, a vice minister for South Korea's Public
Administration and Security Ministry, told a televised news conference.
He said 14 had been injured so far, one seriously, and taken to hospital.
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