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World|life|April 16, 2014 / 09:36 AM
Major rescue operation under way after ferry with 476 people onboard capsized off South Korea

AKIPRESS.COM - _74263783_021929261reu A major rescue operation is under way after a ferry carrying 476 people capsized off South Korea, Korean media report Wednesday.

The ferry, carrying mainly school students, was travelling from Incheon to the southern resort island of Jeju, officials said.

More than 50 ships and helicopters were at the scene to rescue passengers.

One person has died and almost 150 have been rescued so far. Reports say remaining passengers have been told to jump into the sea to await rescue.

Images from the scene showed the ferry listing at a severe angle and then largely submerged.

So far, a total of 147 people have been rescued, South Korean officials said.

A total of 34 naval, coastguard and civilian ships were involved in rescue efforts, as well as 18 helicopters, they said.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye had ordered coast guard commandos to be mobilised to search the ship so that no-one was left behind, Yonhap news agency reported.

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