(VOVworld) – By 4 p.m. Vietnam time, Wednesday, 164 people among a total of 427 passengers had been rescued from a sunken ferry and 2 victims were reported dead.

Rescued passengers, wrapped in blankets, being brought onto land in Jindo after the ferry disaster. (Photo: Yonhap)

An anonymous official at the location said that there were still people stuck inside the ferry despite the 12.6 degree Celsius cold water temperature and that the accident area was covered by layers of mud.
The reason for the sinking is not clear yet. Rescued passengers said that they heard a big explosion then the ferry began listing to one side, injuring several passengers. The sunken ferry, SEWOL, sank about 20 kilometres south off the coast of Byungpoong Island, after 2 hours sending out its distress call.
Among the passengers were 325 students and 14 teachers from Danwon High School in Ansan, south of Seoul. They were on a field trip from Incheon port to Jeju Island, southwest of the Republic of Korea.
The Republic of Korea President, Park Geun-hye, has ordered all her forces, including the navy, coast guards, and commercial vessels to rescue sunken victims. She directly called on and urged the head of the coast guard, Kim Suk-kyoon, to mobilise ranger forces to join the rescue.