South Korean Ferry Disaster Update: At Least 64 Dead, President Equates Crew's Actions To Murder; Transcript From Sewol’s Final Broadcasts Reveals Escape Was ‘Impossible’

 
Maritime police search for missing passengers in front of the South Korean ferry "Sewol" which sank near the island of Jindo on Wednesday. Reuters

By Philip Ross

on April 20 2014 7:10 PM

Update as of 12:10 a.m. EDT: South Korean President Park Geun-hye said on Monday that the actions of the captain and crew of the ferry, which sank last week leaving at least 64 dead, amounted to murder, Reuters reported, adding that four more arrests were made, taking the number of people held in connection to seven.

"Above all, the conduct of the captain and some crew members is unfathomable from the viewpoint of common sense, and it was like an act of murder that cannot and should not be tolerated," Park said during a meeting with aides, Reuters reported, citing a Yonhap news agency report. Witnesses have reportedly accused the captain and his crew of deserting the sinking ship ahead of the passengers. 

Captain Lee Joon-seok and two crew members were arrested last week on negligence charges, according to Reuters. On Monday, prosecutors announced the arrests of two first mates, one second mate and a chief engineer. Most of the dead in the accident are school children and 238 people are missing and presumed dead.

A newly released transcript of the communication between the sinking South Korean ferry and the Jindo coast guard reveals confusion aboard the Sewol.

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