The first of a few periods of slow currents that was supposed to occur Saturday at the scene of the sunken ferry Sewol passed without any progress in the search for the 16 people still missing from the sinking.
That's because tidal currents did not slow down enough for divers to go underwater during the first period that began at 4:22 a.m., officials said. Three more such periods were expected to occur later in the day at 10:26 a.m., 5:03 p.m. and 10:56 p.m.
The area off South Korea's southwest coast is known for strong currents. Weather and the speed of currents were the most important factors affecting rescue and search operations since the April 16 disaster that left more than 300 people dead or missing.
Weather in the area was fine Saturday. Officials said the search team plans to make maximum efforts to scour the wreckage during the day because weather conditions in the area are expected to turn bad, with heavy rains and high waves on Sunday.
No bodies have been retrieved from the sunken ship since one was recovered Wednesday, with the death toll standing at 288 and the number of those missing at 16. A total of 476 people were aboard the 6,825-ton ship at the time of the accident.
Saturday 24 May 2014
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/yonhap-news-agency/140523/no-progress-search-missing-ferry-disaster
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