Nearly 300 Missing and 9 Dead After South Korean Ferry Disaster

A view of the rescue operation underway after ferry Sewol sank in waters off Jindo Island in the southwestern province of South Jeolla, South Korea, 17 April 2014. Photo by EPA/JEON HEON-KYUN.

Some 287 passengers from the capsized ferry off the coast of South Korea are still missing more than 24 hours after the accident.

The death toll was now confirmed at nine with dozens more injured, and the number is expected to grow because the missing have now spent more than a day either trapped in the ferry or in the cold seawater.

Emergency services continued through the night in search for nearly 300 people who remained unaccounted for after the MV Sewol sank off the south-western coast of South Korea, the BBC reports. Some 325 school children were among the 475 people on board the vessel.

The US Navy has sent an amphibious assault ship, the USS Bonhomme Richard, to assist with the search, the BBC said.

The reasons for the accident still remain unclear.

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