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Korean ferry death toll rises to 28, third officer was in charge

Korean ferry death toll rises to 28, third officer was in charge
The confirmed death toll in the South Korean ferry disaster has risen to 28, as it was revealed the third officer was in charge of the vessel at the time of the accident.

Bad weather has continued to hamper the search for survivors with 268 missing from the ferry Sewol, which capsized on Thursday enroute from Incheon to Jeju Island. Some 179 passengers and crew were rescued, while 28 are now confirmed dead.

Poor weather has hampered the rescue operations and divers have so far only been able to access the cargo hold of the vessel.

Investigators have revealed that Captain Lee Joon-seok was not in charge of the vessel when it ran into trouble and it was being steered by the third officer. Lee was one of the 179 rescued from the ferry.

Rescue teams continue to pump oxygen into the stricken vessel in the hope that passengers may have survived in air pockets.