We start with the latest on the Sewol-ho ferry disaster -- now into the twenty-third day of search operations.
For the latest on the recovery operation and the ongoing investigations... of which there are many... we are going to connect with our Connie Kim at the News Center.
Connie....
Well Mark, no additional bodies were found since one victim was found Wednesday morning.... roughly 24 hours ago.
Currently the confirmed death toll stands at 269.
The search efforts will continue in the front part of the sunken vessel and central aisle of the third and fourth floors as well as the stern of the fourth floor.
Forecasters are expecting tidal currents to be calm, but weather conditions are not helping at the present time.
Last night rescue teams were hampered by high waves, and yesterday afternoon divers were only able to work for about an hour before they were told to resurface.
Officials say that on Saturday the rescue team will attempt to comb through for a second time 64 cabins... this includes restrooms, a cafeteria and 47 common areas.
They'll also expand their search area to freight cars.
With divers and rescue teams stretched to their limits... the health and well-being of these personnel is a growing concern.
A 48-year-old coast guard official was found unconscious Wednesday... after he completed his shift... and was immediately transported to a local hospital... but he has yet to recover.*****************
Two rescue personnel have died since rescue operations started three weeks ago.
Medical crews are stationed around one kilometer from the accident site but there are fears the time taken to move an injured or sick diver that far would take too long.
Sounds like an extremely tough time down there for those search crews who must be exhausted. The investigations into the sinking are ongoing... what can you tell us on that front?
Well, Mark...
the representative of the Cheonghaejin Marine Company Kim Han-sik was arrested earlier this morning on charges of homicide by negligence.
But it seems it'll be hard for Yoo Byung-eun , the former Seomo Group chairman and practical owner of the Chonghaejin Marine Comapny to avoid facing charges as the prosecution found traces that Yoo was engaged in operating the company.***
Investigators at the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office have found an organization chart which was used secretly among employees within the company,... which is different from what the official organization chart known to the public.
Yoo formerly denied overtaking any official positions within the company and having any company shares.
Also, the summoning deadline which was 10 a.m. for Yoo Byung-eun 's closest people has just passed including his second son who is abroad.
He may now be forced into the country with the help of the FBI... and Yoo Byung-eun and his first son may be summoned first.
Also, captain Lee Joon-seok and its key crew members may face another charge of murder for neglecting to answer to the attendants' question via walkie-talkie of whether to direct passengers to get off the ferry.
The joint investigation team will look into whether there were any technical problems and whether the captain and his crew members did not answer intentionally.
Data from Lee's crewman certificate shows that the captain has responded irresponsibly three years ago when he was sailing the Ohamana-ho ferry,... another similar vessel to the Sewol-ho ferry with some 400 high school students who were also on their way to a field trip.
The number of survivors and mssing has been changed again... tell us the latest.
The Coast Guard has once again changed its previous data of the rescued and the missing.
The chief explained that they believe additional Chinese passengers were on board,... with the rescued being adjusted from 174 to 172, and the missing passengers standing at 304 from 302.
"The reason why the number has gone up is because we found credit card reciepts from two Chinese nationals who weren't on the passenger list."
The problem here is that the Coast Guard has confirmed two additional passengers but did not release the increased number of missing.
So far they have released the number of victims and not the missing and said it has taken some time to track down the exact number of missing.
Well, this is all from me for now, but I'll be back with more updates in two hours.
