Divers suffer as search for ferry victims continues

More than 100 days have passed since divers found the last body in the ferry that sank off the southwest coast on April 16. But the search for the missing victims continues, and 32 divers go to work every days searching for bodies.

They brave strong currents, low visibility and hypothermia as water temperatures have dropped significantly.

The Sewol has moved around 5.3 m due to the strong currents and is partially embedded in the muddy floor. Its steel frame has collapsed from rust, closing off entry points to the hull.

One diver who has been searching for victims since April, said, "Various parts of the ship are filled with mud and the frame has collapsed in many parts of the ship, which means divers can't search them. We've only been able to dive properly for nine days this month."

As the ferry disaster fades from the headlines, the conditions divers face have also gotten worse. One Navy commander said, "I have kept asking my men to persevere for just one more month, but it's been six months now working aboard a cramped vessel."

The injuries divers suffer are sapping morale. Two divers have died searching for bodies and about 80 have been treated in hospital.

Another Navy commander at the scene of the search said, "Divers who have managed to avoid injuries are faced with the side effects of diving long periods under water including paralysis due to fatigue."

Hwang Dae-shik, a rescue official, said, "Divers have to rest for 16 hours after diving for more than 10 minutes, but nobody was able to abide by that safety guideline in April and May," during massive rescue efforts in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.

The side effects are emerging now.

One diver who had to rescue a fellow diver, said, "It is a noble objective to try and recover all of the bodies of the victims, but the actual people who are risking their lives are the divers and not the president or ministers. We risked our lives to achieve the impossible and now they think it’s just our job to carry on."

The families of the victims held a meeting on Sunday evening to vote on ending the search for bodies and raising the vessel. They will announce their decision on Monday.

Monday 27 October 2014

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/10/27/2014102701360.html

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A month after Japanese volcano eruption, six remain missing

Monday marks one month of the Ontake volcano eruption, the most deadly in Japan since 1926, which killed 57 people and left six others missing after search operations were suspended due to the first snowfall at the top.

Families of the victims and representatives of local authorities gathered and observed one minute of silence in the central regions of Kiso and Otaki neighbouring the Ontake, at the same time the volcano erupted Sep 27.

Residents of both towns also placed a wreath at the foot of the mountain to “sympathise with the inhabitants of the regions and pray for the volcano to calm down”, one of the organisers of the event said in statements to Kyodo agency.

On Oct 16, following the first snowfall at the top of the mountain, Japanese authorities decided to postpone the search for the six missing people until next spring, because of the risk of avalanches, landslides and low visibility.

The rescue teams had already combed most of the volcanic region and found 57 bodies.

Mount Ontake is the second highest volcano in Japan at 3,067 metres and is located about 100 km from Nagoya city.

It erupted Sep 27 when hundreds of people were hiking in the surrounding foothills and at the summit.

It is estimated that some 250 people were able to flee the area or were evacuated, 69 of whom suffered injuries, mostly bruises, fractures and burns.

The eruption was the country’s worst volcanic disaster since 1926 when Mount Tokachi in northern Hokkaido blew its top, killing 144 people and injuring another 210.

As the skiing season approaches, local authorities have also launched a campaign to ensure that tourism does not suffer in the mountainous region that is home to many ski resorts.

Meanwhile, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) maintains the level of volcanic alert for Ontake at three on a scale of five, meaning another eruption is possible, and access to the mountain and its surroundings is restricted.

Monday 27 October 2014

http://www.theindianrepublic.com/world/month-japanese-volcano-eruption-six-remain-missing-100052425.html

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