4:27 م
JINDO, SOUTH KOREA — Efforts to rescue some 270 people from a sunken passenger ferry in South Korea were hampered for a third day as hopes for survivors fades. Anxiety and anger are growing among relatives of the missing, most of them high school students.
Workers at Paengmok Harbor tried to console a parent of one of the missing high school children believed trapped inside the capsized ferry.
Despite earlier reports of success, rescue divers failed in a third day of attempts to get to passengers inside the ship, just 20 kilometers off shore. Oxygen was pumped into the ship in hopes it would reach any survivors.
Divers later tried entering a cargo hold but were not able to go further, in a struggle against wreckage, strong currents and murky water.
Hundreds of volunteers and emergency workers at the harbor tried to comfort distraught relatives angry at the lack of progress and misinformation.
Parents of the missing demanded a road be cleared for any who might be rescued. Authorities quickly obliged, marching in a column of police.
Lee Min-seok, a rescue team captain with the Mokpo Firefighters, explained that the police presence is to keep crowds away so roads are clear enough for ambulances to pass through.
Several ambulances were readied nearby with flashing lights, but the display was cold comfort.
Many realize the odds of surviving this long in the waters of the sunken ship are quite low and the body count is expected to rise.
Teacher commits suicide
Police say on Friday a teacher of the students who was earlier rescued from the ferry apparently committed suicide and was found hanging from a tree.
Authorities have prepared cranes to try to lift the ferry, but relatives demanded they wait until there is certainty that none are alive.
Workers at Paengmok Harbor tried to console a parent of one of the missing high school children believed trapped inside the capsized ferry.
Despite earlier reports of success, rescue divers failed in a third day of attempts to get to passengers inside the ship, just 20 kilometers off shore. Oxygen was pumped into the ship in hopes it would reach any survivors.
Divers later tried entering a cargo hold but were not able to go further, in a struggle against wreckage, strong currents and murky water.
Hundreds of volunteers and emergency workers at the harbor tried to comfort distraught relatives angry at the lack of progress and misinformation.
Parents of the missing demanded a road be cleared for any who might be rescued. Authorities quickly obliged, marching in a column of police.
Lee Min-seok, a rescue team captain with the Mokpo Firefighters, explained that the police presence is to keep crowds away so roads are clear enough for ambulances to pass through.
Several ambulances were readied nearby with flashing lights, but the display was cold comfort.
Many realize the odds of surviving this long in the waters of the sunken ship are quite low and the body count is expected to rise.
Teacher commits suicide
Police say on Friday a teacher of the students who was earlier rescued from the ferry apparently committed suicide and was found hanging from a tree.
Authorities have prepared cranes to try to lift the ferry, but relatives demanded they wait until there is certainty that none are alive.
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