DHAKA: The captain of a South Korean ferry that capsized three days ago was reportedly arrested early Saturday, as divers overcame strong currents and near zero visibility to enter the submerged vessel for the first time.

A team of police and prosecutors had sought on Friday arrest warrants for Lee Joon-Seok, 52, and two of his crew without specifying charges, the coastguard had said, after the incident that left 28 people confirmed dead and another 268 still missing.

On Saturday the Yonhap news agency reported that Lee was in custody and faced five charges, including negligence of duty and violation of maritime law, reports The Straits Times.

Yonhap said a local court in Mokpo had issued arrest warrants for him and two other crew members, citing the possibility that they may flee or destroy evidence.

Earlier, prosecutors said Lee had handed the helm to his third officer before the ferry capsized.

Three days after the sinking, relatives were clinging to increasingly slim hopes that some may have survived in air pockets.

BDST: 1230 HRS, APR 19, 2014