<p>I just caught this on my newsfeed. More than 100 still missing. “Nearly 340 of the passengers were teenagers and teachers from the same school near the capital Seoul on a field trip to Jeju island, about 100 km (60 miles) south of the Korean peninsula.”</p>
<p>I saw that this morning.
We use ferries regularly to cross Puget Sound.
I was frustrated to not know the cause of the accident. So weird.
Those poor families.</p>
<p>I once a read a book on surviving. The book said that if there is an emergency on a ship to never go down into the ship even if told to do so. Apparently, many of the kids who survived this horrific accident, were the ones who went up and grabbed life jackets and were ready to jump. This is so sad.</p>
<p>D’s sixth grade “graduation” event was a trip to Victoria on the Clipper… Despite some sea sickness, it was a memorable trip for them. I’m sure it was supposed to be an exciting trip for those teens… I cannot even imagine being in he shoes of those parents, waiting on the shore and praying that their child could be found alive. </p>
<p>I’m watching the CNN coverage. It is possible that there could be some survivors inside the ship, but not very likely… So, so sad! The talk is that the lunar eclipse might have had something to do with it (lowest tide).</p>
<p>Rescuers are still trying to pump air into the capsized ship… It will be a miracle if they can find survivors after so many hours, but it looks like they are not giving up yet. </p>
<p>They don’t need to have hit anything. There could have been an explosion that blew a hole in one side, the ferry starts to fill on that side, capsizes…</p>
<p>Was it carrying cars and trucks? Who knows what cargo could have been in them.</p>
<p>I just read that it took 2 hours to sink. 2 hours, broad daylight, and they only managed to float two life rafts and so many are missing? this seems very strange to me. Wouldn’t everyone go up on deck?</p>
<p>Just talked to my Korean stepmom, who is of course, getting her news in Korean. She said the captain was away from the bridge, and a young associate with just 6 months experience was at the wheel. Plus they were taking a short cut to save time rather than the usual route. Horrible, sad news. </p>
<p>Many years ago, I also took a ferry to and from Cheju Island, and was impressed by the memorably big water off the coast. </p>
<p>“She said the captain was away from the bridge, and a young associate with just 6 months experience was at the wheel. Plus they were taking a short cut to save time rather than the usual route. Horrible, sad news.”</p>
<p>That is what I heard from a friend who teaches in SK. The people were told to put on their life vests but remain in their seats below deck. Only those who didn’t listen to the instructions and went above deck escaped. </p>
<p>My friend has also taken the ferry to that island many times. </p>
<p>Terrifying. It makes you wonder, if anything goes wrong with a ship at all, should your first move be to put on a life vest and jump? If they’d said to stay in place, I would have. Were there lifeboats? I’ve never been on anything bigger than a fishing boat.</p>
<p>Yes, there were lots of lifeboats! First move should be life vest, followed by getting above deck and being ready to jump (if necessary. ) Normally, lifeboats would be lowered before one would have to jump overboard! </p>
<p>Is it true that the captain was one of the first persons to leave the ship? In one of the very few lifeboats no less. At least that was reported on the radio news this morning.</p>
<p>I cannot stand to read about the text messages that were sent.
At least it doesnt sound like the captain caused the accident, like on the Costa Concordia.
Although it sounds like possibly cargo wasnt secured, and it shifted.</p>
<p>This is so sad. My heart and prayers go out to the families who haven’t heard from their missing children yet. Too many devastating tragedies happening lately.</p>