286 people still missing in Korea ferry disaster

Jindo, South Korea

RESCUERS fought rising winds and waves yesterday as they searched for hundreds of people, mostly teenage schoolchildren, still missing after a South Korean ferry capsized more than 24 hours ago.

Coastguard and navy divers were diving into the waters at the site of the accident, about 20km off the country's south-western coast. Earlier, rescue teams hammered on the hull of the upturned vessel, hoping for a response from anyone trapped inside, but did not hear anything, media reports said.