The U.S. Navy has sent its amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard, which was conducting maritime operations in the Yellow Sea, to provide assistance to people from a sunken ferry in the South Korean waters, the Navy said.
The ferry carrying over 460 people, including a vast number of high school students, sank today in waters off South Korea’s southern coast, according to the ABC News.
About 300 people are missing and 4 are confirmed dead as a result of this accident.
The ferry, named Sewol, was on its way to the southern island of Jeju when the accident occurred.
South Korean Coast Guard crews, a number of navy ships, divers, helicopters and boats are sent to search for the missing people.
The ferry has sunk more than 100 feet below the water’s surface and, according to local officials, mud on the ocean bottom made underwater search hard.
The South Korean Government has launched an investigation into the cause of the accident.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, April 16, 2014; Image: US Navy