‘Panic, confusion as S Korea ferry sank’

A newly-released document shows that confusion and indecision may have added to the death toll from the South Korean ferry disaster.

According to AP, the radio transcript released on Sunday showed that over half an hour had passed between the first distress call and the evacuation order.

The transcript revealed that a crew member of the ferry Sewol asked Jindo Vessel Traffic Services Center (VTS), three times in succession, whether passengers would be rescued if they abandoned ship off South Korea’s southern coast.

That followed several statements from the ship that it was impossible for people aboard to even move, and another in which it said it was “impossible to broadcast” instructions.

Nearly 250 passengers of the ferry, which sank on April 16, remain missing. Only 174 passengers have so far been rescued. The official death toll now stands at 58, but could eventually top 300.