The search is continuing for almost 300 people missing after a ferry carrying more than 460 people – many of them high school students – sank off South Korea.
But the search for survivors is being hampered by bad weather and strong currents.
At least nine people are confirmed to have died, including four 17-year-old students, a 25-year-old teacher and a 22-year-old female crew member. Dozens more passengers were injured.
Officials say 179 people have been rescued. Most of the passengers on board were students and teachers from the same high school on a field trip.
They fear the final death toll will be high.
According to local reports quoting South Korea’s Coastguard, the sinking appeared to occur after the vessel veered into an area of shallow reefs and strong underwater currents. The Captain is being questioned.
The ferry was travelling from Incheon Port, in the northwest, to the southern resort island of Jeju.
Jeju island is popular with tourists with three sites recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Hallasan Mountain, Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak, and the Geomunoreum Lava Tube System.
by Ian Jarrett, Editor TravelMole Asia Pacific
