65 dead, 237 missing in S. Korean ferry sinking accident

(Xinhua/Agencies) Updated: 2014-04-21 08:20

A boy holds a candle during a candlelight vigil to wish for the safe return of missing passengers from the sunken South Korean ferry Sewol, at a park in Ansan April 20, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

Death toll in South Korean ferry disaster rose to 65 on Monday as one more female body was found while divers continued to search inside the submerged vessel and ships scoured the scene of the deadly incident.

Passengers wait for words

'I am sorry,' captain says

As the search and rescue operations entered the sixth day on Monday since the ferry sank near Jindo island off South Korea's southwestern coast on April 16, 65 people have been confirmed dead, with 237 still missing. The number of the rescued remained unchanged at 174, the Coast Guard said.

One more female body was retrieved from inside a passenger cabin of the ship at about 5:10 p.m. local time. Six bodies were recovered earlier in the morning.

A transcript released Sunday shows the ferry that sank was crippled with confusion and indecision well after it began listing dangerously.

Three times in succession, and about half an hour after the ferry Sewol began tilting on Wednesday, a crew member asked Jindo Vessel Traffic Services Center (VTS) whether passengers would be rescued if they abandoned ship off South Korea's southern coast. That followed several statements from the ship that it was impossible for people aboard to even move, and another in which it said it was "impossible to broadcast" instructions.

Many people followed the captain's initial order to stay below deck, where it is feared they remain trapped.

"Even if it's impossible to broadcast, please go out and let the passengers wear life jackets and put on more clothing," an unidentified VTS official urged at 9:24 am, 29 minutes after the Sewol first reported trouble, according to the transcript, released by South Korea's coast guard.

"If this ferry evacuates passengers, will you be able to rescue them?" the unidentified crew member asked.

"At least make them wear life rings and make them escape!" the VTS official responded.

"If this ferry evacuates passengers, will they be rescued right away?" the crew member asked again.

"Don't let them go bare - at least make them wear life rings and make them escape!" the VTS official repeated. "The rescue of human lives from the Sewol ferry ... the captain should make his own decision and evacuate them. We don't know the situation very well. The captain should make the final decision and decide whether you're going to evacuate passengers or not."

"I'm not talking about that," the crew member said. "I asked, if they evacuate now, can they be rescued right away?"