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Ferry survivors recount harrowing tales as vessel capsizes

Survivors of the sinking of a ferry that capsized off South Korea have been recounting their experiences. Four people are known to have died and as many as 300 remain unaccounted for as the vessel, carrying mainly students, keeled over en route from Incheon to the southern resort island of Jeju. Authorities say 164 had so far been plucked from the sea with 55 undergoing treatment for injuries. Cho Min Ji, an 18-year-old woman related her terrifying experience: “I was almost trapped. I was told to go outside and jump into the water through the exit, but I couldn’t.” Several coastguard, naval and merchant ships are involved in the search and rescue: “The water started to flow over the rails and I knew then I had to definitely get off the ship, so I tried to break the window at the front of the cabin using a fire extinguisher. I hit it three times, but it wouldn’t break,” said another passenger relieved to have escaped with his life. Divers are continuing to search the crippled ferry and surrounding waters in the hope of finding more survivors.