The captain of a South Korean ferry that capsized and
sank earlier this week has been arrested, Yonhap news agency reports. The South
Korean agency said the captain - Lee Joon-seok faced charges including
negligence of duty and violation of maritime law.
Efforts to find the 268 people still missing have been
hampered by low visibility and strong currents. Twenty eight people are now
known to have died in the disaster, with 179 rescued.
The ferry Sewol was sailing from Incheon, in the
north-west, to the southern resort island of Jeju. It capsized and sank within
two hours. Investigations are focusing on the sharp turn the vessel took before
it started listing and whether an evacuation order could have saved lives.
Some experts believe such a tight turn could have
dislodged heavy cargo and destabilised the vessel, while others suggest it
could have been caused by a collision with a rock.
Mr Lee, who had already been questioned by police, was
shown on television on Thursday, his face partially obscured, apologizing to
the victims and their relatives. "I am really sorry and deeply ashamed. I
don't know what to say," he said.