Divers to cut open hull of ferry Sewol

By Park Sae-jin Posted : May 29, 2014, 10:33 Updated : May 29, 2014, 10:33
A barge that will help cut open part of the hull of the submerged ferry Sewol arrived at the site of the sinking off the country’s southwest coast early Thursday.

Divers plan to cut out windows on the fourth floor of the ill-fated ship to remove debris and then reach some parts of the cabins where many of 16 people still missing are presumed to be trapped, officials said.

On Wednesday, official and family members of the missing agreed to use a cutting machine to break into parts of the hull.

Divers conducted search again in the early hours of Thursday, a time when currents slowed down, but failed to recover any body, officials said. 

The site of the ferry’s sinking and nearby waters are notorious for strong currents and low visibility.

No progress has been made in search efforts for the missing since a week ago. The death toll remains unchanged at 288, mostly schoolchildren who were on a field trip to the southern resort island of Jeju.

The Sewol capsized and sank in waters off Jindo on April 16. Of 476 people on board, 172 were rescued.

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