Sewol-ho ferry reveals full-shape for the first time since 2014
- 6 years ago
It was a little over four years ago... that that the South Korean ferry Sewol-ho... sank in waters off the southwestern coast, killing more than 300 people, mostly high school students.
Now the ship, raised from the sea and on land, was finally turned upright... so a more thorough search can be conducted and hopefully result in new findings in the investigation.
Our Kim Mok-yeon is at the scene where the operation began this morning.
Mok-yeon, how is the atmosphere there?
Yes, Devin. I'm here at Mokpo New Port, and just around noon, the lifting operations finally came to an end, and now we are able to see the full-shape of the ferry for the first time since it capsized in 2014.)))
The Sewol-ho Investigation Committee started the process at 9 a.m.... pulling 64 wires through the ten-thousand ton floating crane that's connected to a total of 66 steel beams installed on both sides of the ferry.
The vessel had been gradually pulled upright in six stages by tilting the body of the ferry by 35 degrees from the ground, to 50 degrees, and finally to 90 degrees.
We’ve also seen some rusty particles and liquid falling from the vessel during the final stages of the operation.
Now that the Sewol-ho has been lifted to an upright position, the committee says it will install a pathway that can allow access to the ship's interior, so they can start removing any hazardous elements that may still be inside the hull.
After that, investigators will officially begin their search for the bodies of the five victims still unaccounted for... all these years later.
They will also look for new clues that could unlock fresh evidence about what caused the disaster.
Family members are also hoping to find the belongings of their loved ones that could still be inside the vessel.
But, investigators say official search operations are unlikely to start for the next few weeks as the process of safely securing the ferry, including removing the support beams,... won't be finished until June 10th.
Back to you, Devin.
Now the ship, raised from the sea and on land, was finally turned upright... so a more thorough search can be conducted and hopefully result in new findings in the investigation.
Our Kim Mok-yeon is at the scene where the operation began this morning.
Mok-yeon, how is the atmosphere there?
Yes, Devin. I'm here at Mokpo New Port, and just around noon, the lifting operations finally came to an end, and now we are able to see the full-shape of the ferry for the first time since it capsized in 2014.)))
The Sewol-ho Investigation Committee started the process at 9 a.m.... pulling 64 wires through the ten-thousand ton floating crane that's connected to a total of 66 steel beams installed on both sides of the ferry.
The vessel had been gradually pulled upright in six stages by tilting the body of the ferry by 35 degrees from the ground, to 50 degrees, and finally to 90 degrees.
We’ve also seen some rusty particles and liquid falling from the vessel during the final stages of the operation.
Now that the Sewol-ho has been lifted to an upright position, the committee says it will install a pathway that can allow access to the ship's interior, so they can start removing any hazardous elements that may still be inside the hull.
After that, investigators will officially begin their search for the bodies of the five victims still unaccounted for... all these years later.
They will also look for new clues that could unlock fresh evidence about what caused the disaster.
Family members are also hoping to find the belongings of their loved ones that could still be inside the vessel.
But, investigators say official search operations are unlikely to start for the next few weeks as the process of safely securing the ferry, including removing the support beams,... won't be finished until June 10th.
Back to you, Devin.