South Korean president says ferry crew’s actions ‘tantamount to murder’

The actions of the captain and crew of a capsized South Korean ferry were “tantamount to murder,” President Park Guen-Hye said Monday, condemning their “unimaginable” decision to escape while hundreds were still trapped in the sinking vessel.

“The actions of the captain and some crew members were utterly incomprehensible, unacceptable and tantamount to murder,” President Park Geun-hye was quoted as saying in a meeting with senior aides on Monday.

“Not only my heart, but the hearts of all South Koreans have been broken and filled with shock and anger.”

Divers are continuing to recover bodies from the ferry, as they gain access to more of the submerged hull.

Prosecutors said Monday four more crew members have been detained on allegations of failing to protect passengers. 

Divers have pulled more than 60 bodies from the sunken boat, as authorities widened their inquiry and released transcripts capturing the confusion as the ship capsized and began to sink. More than 200 people are still unaccounted for. Most of the victims were high school students.

Rescuers saved 174 people as the vessel sank. 

Police, meanwhile, have been given access to hundreds of messages sent by passengers and crew so they can construct a detailed chronology of the ferry’s last hour.

A memorial service for many of the victims is planned Wednesday in Ansan, South Korea, home to many of the students on board. 

Marine traffic control transcripts, released Sunday, showed that the crew was hesitant to order passengers to abandon ship.

The captain, Lee Jun-seok, has said he did not order an immediate evacuation because he feared the passengers would be in danger from the strong currents and the cold water, which is about 10 degrees Celsius.  Lee was one of the first to leave the ferry.

According to the transcript, Jindo Vessel Traffic Services instructed the crew to get passengers off the boat as other boats rushed to save them after the ferry carrying 476 people began to list.

The ferry Sewol sank in 27m of water in calm seas on Wednesday as it sailed from Incheon in the northwest to the southern island of Jeju.

Source: THE TIMES OF EARTH and agencies