BBC Online : Almost 300 people remain unaccounted for after a ferry carrying 459 people capsized and sank off South Korea. The ferry, carrying mainly school students, was travelling from the port of Incheon, in the north-west, to the southern resort island of Jeju. A major rescue effort is under way, involving dozens of ships and helicopters. Those brought to safety were taken to a nearby island. Four people are now said to have died and dozens of others have been hurt. Analysis Richard Westcott BBC Transport correspondent Domestic ferries across some parts of Asia have a bad safety record, especially in countries such as the Philippines and Indonesia where ships can be overcrowded and poorly maintained. But in recent years South Korea has been one of the exceptions. This particular ferry was built in Japan, who make some of the best ships in the world. It wasn’t anywhere near full and it was travelling a well-worn route in reasonably calm seas. The speed with which it flipped over and sank is a major concern. Passengers described a loud thud, which might suggest it hit something hard. It doesn’t matter how well built the ship is, collisions can sink vessels very quickly. Survivors have also complained that they were told to stay put even though the ferry was tipping over. That’s not as surprising as you might think. The basic assumption is always that the ship is the best lifeboat. That it’s normally safer to stay on board than brave the water. All of these split second evacuation decisions and the design of the ship, will be analysed by investigators. South Korean officials had earlier said that 368 people had been plucked to safety, but later said there had been a counting error. They have now revised down the number rescued to 164. Images showed the ferry listing at a severe angle and then later almost completely submerged, with only a small part of its hull visible. It sank within two hours of sending a distress signal, reports said. There are fears this could turn out to be South Korea’s biggest maritime disaster for more than 20 years, says the BBC’s Martin Patience in Seoul. Cause unclear Several coast guard, military and commercial vessels were involved in the rescue effort, which unfolded rapidly on Wednesday morning. Pictures from the scene showed rescue teams balanced on the sinking hull pulling teenagers from cabin windows. Some of their classmates jumped into the sea as the ship went down. Reports suggest some of those rescued were picked up by nearby commercial vessels. The US Navy has sent a ship to assist the search.
