And in waters off Korea's southwestern coast... search-and-rescue operations are well into the ninth day, but not a single survivor has been found since the ferry capsized last Wednesday morning.
For the latest, we now go live to our Song Ji-sun , at Paengmok-hang Harbor - just 20 kilometers from the accident site.
Ji-sun.
TODAY was the most critical day in terms of the search-and-rescue operation, as the currents in the area are forecast to get stronger.
Sixteen more bodies were recovered on Thursday -- and the death toll now well exceeds the number of survivors... standing at 1-hundred-75... with 1-hundred-27 still missing underwater.
The divers focused their search on the third floor where the cafeteria is... but did not recover as many victims as they hoped for.
The search also focused on the fourth level of the ship, where the cabins of most Danwon High School students were located.
Divers also said there were no air pockets present inside the sunken ferry... thinning the chance of possible survivors after the ship submerged completely underwater.
You also told us earlier that there was a row between families of the missing and the authorities there. Can you tell us more?
Exhausted and angry parents of the Danwon High School students are showing very, very strong distrust of the ongoing search-and-rescue operation.
They are now speaking with the oceans minister who arrived at the site over four hours ago... questioning whether there was enough done in search operations today.
The parents want more diving distance lines to be installed on the fourth deck of the sunken ferry where most students are expected to be... and that more private divers are brought into the operation.
Families of the missing are convinced that the authorities did not go forward with the rescue operation as they had been told... and it is pretty certain, at this point, that private divers who volunteered to participte in the rescue operation -- have pulled out after conflicting with the navy and marine divers.
Parents want them back as they think there are not enough divers out there to go underwater and search for -- what the parents now say -- are the bodies of their children.
The oceans minister and the coast guard chief have been consistently saying that they are doing all that they can, and are making use of every possible asset,... but parents are not believing what they are saying... anymore.
This was Song Ji-sun reporting live from Paengmok-hang Harbor in Jindo.
Title: Expert view: Sewol-ho ferry crew's actions and salvage efforts
The unfolding situation surrounding the sunken ferry, here in Korea, continues to raise questions on whether the crew responded properly.
Initially, expert seamen cautioned against jumping to any conclusions prior to a full investigation of the sinking... of the ferry named Sewol.
But all the latest findings point to negligence by the ones responsible for the safety of passengers.
To help us validate this fact we have Captain Nicholas Sloane, Senior Salvage Master of the Costa Concordia Removal Project.
Thank-you for joining us.
Thank-you for having me.
