South Korean ship with 450 aboard sinking off South Korean coast

[Adam]

South Korean ferry sinking with 450 people on board

South Korea despatched coastguard vessels and helicopters on Wednesday to rescue around 450 passengers – mostly high school students – on a ferry sinking off the southern coast, officials said.

"The ship is taking in water and sinking," a coastguard spokesman told AFP by phone.

"There are around 450 people on board and we have coastguard vessels, commercial ships in the area, as well as helicopters all engaged in the rescue operation," the spokesman said.

Earlier reports had put the number of people on board at 350.

Most of the passengers were believed to be high school students on a trip to the southern resort island of Jeju.

[phillygirl]

I hope they are all rescued. How horrible.

[Adam]

I hope they are all rescued. How horrible.

Last I'd seen, at least 81 were confirmed rescued, more rescues underway, but they were begging people to jump off the boat into the water. I'm no expert on it, but I'm guessing that the waters in the Pacific twelve miles off the Korean peninsula are pretty damned cold this time of year.

[Novaheart]

Sip Sang Ing

Wi Ro Nao

Sum Ting Wong

[Adam]

Sip Sang Ing

Wi Ro Nao

Sum Ting Wong

The seats in handbasket class aren't very comfortable....

[Adam]

All 338 students rescued, at least two other passengers dead. Reports that there are some trapped in the ship.

[Novaheart]

All 338 students rescued, at least two other passengers dead. Reports that there are some trapped in the ship.

I think the problem is that ship floats at an odd angle.

[Novaheart]

All 338 students rescued, at least two other passengers dead. Reports that there are some trapped in the ship.

If everyone will go look over the starboard rail, you'll see dolphins playing!

[Adam]

All 338 students rescued, at least two other passengers dead. Reports that there are some trapped in the ship.

And now they've changed that drastically: 164 rescued, 3 dead, 292 missing.

[Michele]

This is so tragic. I hope the numbers will be revised again and most will be found.

[phillygirl]

And now they've changed that drastically: 164 rescued, 3 dead, 292 missing.

That was more of what I had been hearing. Terrible.

[Adam]

Oh God, how awful.

"Dad, don't worry. I've got a life vest on and we're huddled together," one 18-year-old student, identified only by her last name, Shin, texted her father, according to MBC News, a Korean news station.

The father replied: "I know the rescue is underway but make your way out if you can."

"Dad, I can't walk out," she replied. "The corridor is full of kids, and it's too tilted."

The student was among the 290 still reported missing.

In another exchange, a male student texted his mother, who was unaware at the time that the ferry was in distress.

"Mom, I might not be able to tell you in person. I love you," the student texted, according to MBC.

"Me too, son. I love you," the mother texted back, followed with three heart symbols.

Fortunately, that student was among the 179 people who have been rescued, MBC reported.

And one family said they had received a text message saying “I am alive” from one of the missing people while still on board, Korean news agency NEWSIS reported. It was unclear if that person had been rescued.