Posted on 04/16/2014 8:41:37 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
South Korean coastguard and navy divers resumed searching on Thursday for about 290 people still missing, many of them students from the same high school, after a ferry capsized in sight of land.
So far 179 people have been rescued and six confirmed dead in what could be the country's worst maritime accident in 20 years.
It is not known why the 6,586 metric ton vessel, built in Japan 20 years ago, sank.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Why do writers present these stories as though they’re surprised when things don’t get better with time?
You are right, this is very sad. My heart goes out to the families.
Interesting since usually this kind of a disaster happens in third world countries. If South Korea hasn’t reached first world status yet, it surely is getting there fast.
Because... that's how they make a living.
I have been watching YTN online (Korean news channel). They just showed a video of people boarding the ship, school kids, parents with little children. It’s all very sad.
One thing I learned from 9/11, if something seems off, get out. No way would I have followed the crew’s directions to sit there.
Agreed
As a ferry boat it had shown its merit hundreds of time ferrying thousands of passengers. Overloading and lack of maintenance would sink ANY boat.
VERY sad.
This is sad. I hope they didn’t get rammed by a US submarine
450 passengers; capacity 900 so not overloaded. Lack of maintenance is possible as a load noise was reported prior to listing by some survivors.
“450 passengers; capacity 900 so not overloaded. Lack of maintenance is possible as a load noise was reported prior to listing by some survivors.”
Or the loud noise could have been a North Korean torpedo or sabotage. The ferries in S. Korea are pretty nice, at least the ones I have ridden. If it were China, Thailand or the Philippines I would question the maintenance but not really in S. Korea. I bet they have better maintained ferries than the UK
Do they have life jackets in South Korea?
My suspicion as to the cause lies north of the 38th parallel.
Nah, they obviously OVERLOADED the ferry.
I wouldn't be surprised if said ferry missed its last 20 maintenance checks as well.
You're right, not overloaded.
Ferry boats don't sink for no reason. Maintenance is the LAST thing some governments spend their money on because it costs a lot and there is nothing in hand to show for it. Governments get away with it most of time....UNTIL a disaster like this happens. Heads will roll, for a while, then it will be "business as usual."
This is what my husband always used to say. He was a mechanical engineer who worked in the natural gas industry for Saudi Aramco. We lived there five years. He was disgusted with the maintenance level of so many machines and engines over there. They were disasters waiting to happen.
100% the same lesson I learned. If it is off get off. Even if it doesn't work at least you'll leave the planet doing something and making your own decision rather than in place due to another's decision.
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