Nearly 300 people are still missing: After the sinking of the ferry before the South Korean coast, rescue workers are making progress difficult. Furious members have attacked at a meeting Prime Minister Chung Hong Won.

Why the “Sewol” sank? One day after the sinking of the ferry off the southwest coast of South Korea, the cause of the accident is unclear. Nearly 300 passengers are missing, the rescue teams continue to search for survivors – but the hope is fading.

The Coast Guard is concerned that a large part of the more than 470 people on board was included in the hull of the ferry. According to the national news agency Yonhap to 169 boats and 29 aircraft in the search for survivors involved. Divers were trying to penetrate into the interior of the sunken ship. But the strong current and poor visibility made ​​it difficult to work at the crash site.

So far, the crisis staff of the Government confirmed nine fatalities. It is feared that the number is still rising dramatically. The number of the saved is estimated at around 180.

As Prime Minister Chung Hong Won on the island of Jindo spoke with relatives of the missing, there was sometimes turbulent scenes. Some families criticized the politicians sharp, he was pelted with a water bottle.

Among the confirmed deaths are also several students. In total there were more than 325 teenagers a high school from a suburb of Seoul on board the ship. Together with teachers they were going on a trip to the southern resort island of Cheju, as the ship got into distress on Wednesday morning. A few hours later stood just out of the bulbous bow from the water surface.

The determination headquarters of the Coast Guard have now interviewed the captain and other crew members, told the radio station KBS. Their statements suggested that a jerky turning the ship could have led in the course of a necessary change of course to the island Chindo to the disaster. Investigators did not rule according to the report, this scenario as misfortune cause.

A spokesman for the Coast Guard would not comment on speculation about the cause of the crash. A Yonhap report about a possible rapid change of course he had denied, according to the AP news agency, however. It is possible that more than 140 meters long car and passenger ferry ran on a rock – this also establish what happened is discussed. Survivors spoke of a big bang before the ship sinks.

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