Windows in ferry wreck to be cut open
Divers were preparing to cut open windows on the 4th deck of the "Sewol" on May 28 during the search for the 16 people still missing from the sinking. Since one female body was retrieved a week ago, no progress has been made in search operations for those missing.
The death toll from the sinking of the ferry on Apr 16 stood at 288. As the search efforts dragged on without much headway, the government search team has decided to cut open part of the hull to break into the 4th deck, where some of the missing people are believed to be trapped.
Floating debris and decaying partitions have prevented divers from accessing the inner compartments of the deck. Strong winds and strong currents were expected to interrupt the cutting work as well as the broader search operations. A 780-ton rescue vessel carrying cutting machines and divers arrived at the port of Paengmok on May 28 morning to join the search operations. The barge was to be dispatched to the rescue site sometime in the afternoon after considering weather conditions.
The vessel was to be used by the divers who will cut into the hull and remove debris there for easier rescue attempts. Weather in the area was forecast to be unfavorable, with waves reaching between 1.5 meters and 2.5 meters, and wind blowing at speeds ranging from 8 meters to 12 meters per second. The weather condition is forecast to become a little milder in the afternoon. Government and civilian divers engaged in the search operations planned to search the dining room on the 3rd deck, and passenger compartments on the 4th and 5th decks when the tide turns low during the day.
Divers were preparing to cut open windows on the 4th deck of the "Sewol" on May 28 during the search for the 16 people still missing from the sinking. Since one female body was retrieved a week ago, no progress has been made in search operations for those missing.
The death toll from the sinking of the ferry on Apr 16 stood at 288. As the search efforts dragged on without much headway, the government search team has decided to cut open part of the hull to break into the 4th deck, where some of the missing people are believed to be trapped.
Floating debris and decaying partitions have prevented divers from accessing the inner compartments of the deck. Strong winds and strong currents were expected to interrupt the cutting work as well as the broader search operations. A 780-ton rescue vessel carrying cutting machines and divers arrived at the port of Paengmok on May 28 morning to join the search operations. The barge was to be dispatched to the rescue site sometime in the afternoon after considering weather conditions.
The vessel was to be used by the divers who will cut into the hull and remove debris there for easier rescue attempts. Weather in the area was forecast to be unfavorable, with waves reaching between 1.5 meters and 2.5 meters, and wind blowing at speeds ranging from 8 meters to 12 meters per second. The weather condition is forecast to become a little milder in the afternoon. Government and civilian divers engaged in the search operations planned to search the dining room on the 3rd deck, and passenger compartments on the 4th and 5th decks when the tide turns low during the day.