Nine People Dead and Hundreds Missing in Ferry Incident

Search and rescue operations related to the sunken ferry “Sewol” are still ongoing offshore the South Korean island of Jeju.

The incident occurred yesterday with 475 people on board the vessel, most of them being high school students.

Until now nine people were found dead, and 179 rescued, leaving nearly 300 missing, Reuters reported.

The cause of the incident is still unknown.

According to CNN, the massive rescue efforts up until now have included 169 boats, 29 planes and 512 divers.

The strong tides in the area of the incident pose an obstacle to the divers and rescuers involved in the operation.

Related:

Ferry Sinks Offshore South Korea Leaving Two People Dead

Subsea World News Staff, April 17, 2014;  Image: South Korea Coast Guard