Investigators uncover more flaws with Sewol-ho rescue operation

Описание: What if? It's a question that's been asked frequently and firmly over the last month with regard to the Sewol-ho ferry tragedy.
What if emergency responders had been more aggressive in getting on board the sinking vessel to save more people?
In a report that's likely to enrage an already frustrated public, it's been discovered that the first rescue teams to arrive at the accident site did not follow protocol.
Sohn Jung-in reports.

The investigation into the early response to the Sewol-ho ferry accident has uncovered new developments that are sure to add to the public anger.
As the ferry was capsizing at around 9:30 a.m. on April 16th, the chief command team of the maritime police assigned patrol ship number 123 of the Mokpo Coast Guard as the on-scene commander, as it was the first to arrive at the site.
An on-scene commander, according to Korea's "maritime rescue manual," takes the lead at an accident site and provides reports on the situation on a regular basis.
However, ship 123 did not follow the orders given by the chief of the Mokpo Coast Guard Kim Moon-hong ,... who more than four times ordered the evacuation of all the ferry's passengers.
No such order was relayed by ship 123.
The manual also requires at least one person to be immediately dispatched to the hull of a vessel in an emergency situation.
That directive was also ignored.

In another development, it's been learned that the Coast Guard did not send a rescue team to the accident site by helicopter.
Instead, they traveled by land and arrived on the scene after the ferry had already sunk.
As for the captain of the ill-fated ferry, Lee Joon-seok, prosecutors are in the process of bringing manslaughter charges against him.
Other key crewmembers, who were responsible for the safety of the passengers in case of an emergency situation, but escaped... will likely face similar charges.
Sohn Jung-in, Arirang News.