Body Found Miles from South Korea Ferry Wreckage

A victim from the South Korean ferry disaster was found in waters roughly 25 miles from the site of the capsized vessel, the Associated Press reported. The body is the first recovered since May 21, bringing the death toll to 289.

Government officials said fingerprint scans identified the body as one of the passengers from the ferry Sewol that sank on April 16.

Fifteen people remain missing as divers continue o search the wreckage. AP reported that divers are impeded by heavy objects such as desks and cabinets which have made it difficult to navigate through unsearched parts of the ferry. Divers have been cutting open parts of the ship exterior to make searches easier.

The Sewol, overloaded and travelling too fast on a turn, sank off South Korea’s southwest coast on a routine journey from Incheon on the mainland to the southern holiday island of Jeju, killing children and teachers, among others, on a high school field trip.

Only 172 people were rescued of an estimated 476 passengers and crew on board.

Source: AP, Reuters, Staff