BEIJING, April 17 (Xinhuanet) -- A passenger ship capsized in waters off South Korea's southwest coast Wednesday. Search operations for survivors of the tragedy have resumed overnight after being halted earlier due to bad weather.
The South Korean Coast Guard says about 180 divers were sent to the scene during the night. Two rescue vessels have also arrived and joined other ships and helicopters in searching waters near the site of the tragedy. The US Seventh Fleet said its warship, the USS Bonhomme Richard, which has helicopters on board and was on a routine patrol off South Korea’s west coast, was on its way to the scene to help.
The South Korean passenger ship "Sewol" was on an overnight journey to the tourist island of Jeju, when it overturned and sank off the coast of Jindo Island on Wednesday morning. There were 475 people aboard, and many of them were high school students on a class trip. 9 people have been confirmed dead, and nearly 300 are still missing.
(Source: CNTV.cn)
|
