A South Korean ferry capsized Wednesday with 459 people aboard, most of them teenagers on a high school trip. Here is what we know so far:
Q: Where did the ship capsize?
A: The ship ran into trouble several dozen miles from Jindo, an island that sticks out of South Korea's southwestern corner. Jindo is surrounded by a group of even smaller islands that are slightly farther afield from the mainland. The ferry was curving around those small islands at the time it issued a distress call.
Q: What caused the disaster?
A: We don't yet know, and it's important not to turn the few pieces of information into something conclusive. But some passengers have reported feeling a jolt or hearing a loud noise just before the ferry began to capsize. Those would be consistent with the ferry running aground or hitting with a rock or some other enormous object.
Q: How cold is the water?
A: Various reports place the water at 50 to 54 degrees Fahrenheit. One emergency official told the Associated Press that a survivor could develop hypothermia after 90 minutes in such waters. Many of the survivors were rushed to Jindo Island and were given thick blankets and dry clothing.
Q: How deep is the water?
A: It's about 110 feet deep, relatively shallow. The ferry is 480 feet long. Hours into the rescue, the ferry's bow could be seen protruding from the water, the rest of the vessel submerged. It's conceivable that one end of the ferry was touching the floor of the Yellow Sea as the other end poked out of the water.
Q: What do we know about the ferry's journey?
A: The ferry was making a 13-hour, 30-minute trip from Incheon to Jeju. Incheon is a port city to the west of Seoul and a major departure point for vessels heading not only to South Korean islands, but also to China. Jeju is a volcanic island and the southernmost major point in South Korea. It's famous for its lava-rock beaches, seafood and eclectic museums; it has museums dedicated to sea shells, teddy bears, sex and Africa.
The island has a population of just 600,000, but it attracts some 10 million visitors annually, including armies of Chinese tourists, who are allowed to visit without visas.
Q: What is it like to ride a South Korean ferry?
A: South Korea has several thousand islands, and ferries connect the largest ones. The vessels come in all sizes, but the long-haul ones -- suited for overnight trips -- tend to be well-appointed. The vessel, called the Sewol, has multiple decks and bedrooms for passengers, as well as a restaurant, a library and a convenience store, according to a video on the website of the ferry operator. South Korea's Yonhap news agency says that the Sewol was built in 1994 in Japan. - By Chico Harlan
The Washington Post
Fri Apr 18 2014
-filepic
KPT mahu lahir ramai pakar dalam bidang kesihatan planet
Kerajaan bercadang untuk memberikan penekanan untuk menghasilkan graduan yang seterusnya menjadi pakar dalam bidang Planetary Health atau Kesihatan Planet di masa akan datang. Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi, Datuk Seri Zaini Ujang ketika ditemu bual Astro AWANI seusai memberikan ucapan bersempena penganjuran Sidang Kemuncak Kesihatan Planet (PHAM 2024) pada Khamis berkata, untuk menjayakan perkara itu dua kerangka perlu dilaksanakan.
Kadar miskin tegar di Johor rendah, mampu diatasi
Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim berhasrat menoktahkan kadar kemiskinan tegar di Johor.
Katanya, Johor mencatat kadar kemiskinan tegar yang rendah iaitu kurang daripada 2,000 individu, dan mampu diselesaikan dalam masa yang singkat.
Katanya, Johor mencatat kadar kemiskinan tegar yang rendah iaitu kurang daripada 2,000 individu, dan mampu diselesaikan dalam masa yang singkat.
Google pecat 28 pekerja protes perjanjian pengkomputeran awan dengan Israel
Google memecat 28 pekerja yang mengambil bahagian dalam bantahan terhadap projek gergasi teknologi bernilai US$1.2 bilion untuk membekalkan perkhidmatan pengkomputeran awan kepada kerajaan Israel, Sputnik memetik laporan media AS pada Khamis.
Jepun dilanda gempa bumi, sembilan cedera
Sembilan orang dilaporkan cedera selepas gempa bumi berukuran 6.6 magnitud melanda barat daya Jepun, pada Khamis.
Peserta Freedom Flotilla to Gaza dari Malaysia tiba di Turki
Kesemua 19 peserta dari Malaysia yang menyertai misi Break the Siege of Gaza Freedom Flotilla tiba di Istanbul, Turkiye pada 2.47 petang Khamis (waktu tempatan).
Banjir di Melaka pulih sepenuhnya
Pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS) yang diaktifkan di Melaka bagi menempatkan mangsa banjir di beberapa kawasan di negeri itu ditutup sepenuhnya pada Khamis.
SKMM sita telefon bimbit milik tiga individu
Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia (SKMM) telah menyita telefon bimbit milik ketiga-ketiga individu untuk memuat naik video bagi membantu siasatan.
SKMM turut merakam percakapan Badrul Hisham (Chegubard),Salim Iskandar di Ibu Pejabat MCMC di Cyberjaya, Selangor. Sementara, Wan Muhammad Azri bin Wan Deris (Papagomo) dilakukan di Balai Polis Setapak.
SKMM turut merakam percakapan Badrul Hisham (Chegubard),Salim Iskandar di Ibu Pejabat MCMC di Cyberjaya, Selangor. Sementara, Wan Muhammad Azri bin Wan Deris (Papagomo) dilakukan di Balai Polis Setapak.
Bas langgar 11 kenderaan, dua cedera
Hilang kawalan akibat kegagalan brek dipercayai punca sebuah bas melanggar 11 kenderaan lain di persimpangan lampu isyarat Jalan Tan Swee Hoe-Jalan Kluang di Batu Pahat, Johor.
Bekas juruteknik didakwa kali kedua
Seorang bekas juruteknik sekali lagi dihadapkan ke Mahkamah Sesyen Kuala Lumpur hari ini, atas pertuduhan membuat hantaran menghina agama Islam berkaitan isu penjualan stoking tertera kalimah Allah melalui Facebook miliknya, Mac lepas.
Penunggang motosikal maut tercampak 30 meter dari jejantas
Seorang penunggang motosikal maut selepas terjatuh dari ketinggian kira-kira 30 meter dalam kemalangan di Jejantas Sungai Tiram, Bayan Lepas petang Khamis.
Mangsa lelaki berusia 27 tahun itu dilaporkan meninggal dunia semasa mendapatkan rawatan di Zon Merah sebuah hospital swasta.
Mangsa lelaki berusia 27 tahun itu dilaporkan meninggal dunia semasa mendapatkan rawatan di Zon Merah sebuah hospital swasta.