Seoul, April 30 (IANS/EFE) Rescue teams used a diving bell Wednesday in a bid to recover about 100 lifeless bodies which remain inside the South Korean ferry that sank off the country's southwestern coast April 16 with 302 deaths and disappearances.
The Sewol, which was travelling from Incheon in the northwest to Jeju Island in the south, overturned and sank to a depth of 30 metres.
Workers have established guiding ropes around the fourth floor of the boat's stern and have located a base to operate the diving bell when the tides lower, the South Korean coast guard said.
Meanwhile, the government initiated a preliminary audit of state agencies that have any relation with the maritime accident to find out if their practices were appropriate both in terms of prevention - including security reviews of the boat - and response to the shipwreck.
In case any irregularities are found, further investigations will be carried out.
These inspections will affect the ministries of maritime affairs and public security, the coast guard and maritime and port administration.
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Two weeks have elapsed since the Sewol, , sank.
Among the 476 passengers travelling aboard the ferry, 325 were 16- and 17-year-old high school students who were going to the island on a study trip.
In all, 176 people were evacuated on the day of the incident and the next few days were crucial for finding possible survivors in the air pockets but bad weather conditions made it difficult to carry out the rescue and only a few bodies could be recovered.
A week later, the sea conditions improved and most of the corpses were recovered, but since last Sunday, high tides and strong currents again started interfering with the rescue efforts.
Late Tuesday, only five bodies could be retrieved, which took the toll to 210, while the number of missing people is 92 and all hopes of finding anyone alive have already disappeared.
While the the investigation report into the cause of the wreck is awaited, it is believed that the ferry made a brisk turn which displaced 180 vehicles and 1,157 tonnes of cargo to one side, leading to disbalancing and overturning of the boat.
The high number of deaths is attributed to the delay by the captain and the crew in ordering evacuation and instead asking the passengers not to move from their places.
The captain and several members of the crew remain under custody for allegedly abandoning the ferry before the passengers.
The shipwreck has also created a political storm in South Korea.
On Tuesday, South Korean President Park Geun-hye apologised in the face of strong criticism due to the government's lack of prevention and proper management of the incident.
--IANS/EFE
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