DHAKA: Death toll reached near 60 while 246 still are unaccounted in South Korean ferry disaster, reports Voice of America.

voanews said that by early Sunday divers also have entered the sunken ferry Sewol to recover more bodies.

In this incident 56 bodies have been recovered and most of the victims were high school students.

Voice of America mentioned hundreds of divers, including civilian volunteers, have battled strong undercurrents and poor visibility to enter the submerged ferry, which went down Wednesday with 476 people on board off the southwestern island of Jindo. The Coast Guard said divers were first able to smash through a ship`s window late Saturday to recover the first bodies in what is expected to be a long and grim recovery operation.

There are only 174 known survivors, with no one rescued since Wednesday.

South Korean prosecutors say the 26-year-old third mate left to steer the doomed ferry through a treacherous waterway was navigating the area for the first time when the vessel listed on its side and sank.

Authorities have also confirmed that the ship`s captain was in his quarters at the time of the sinking, leaving the inexperienced third mate at the helm.

The captain, the third mate and one other crew member were arrested Saturday on charges of deserting their passengers as the ferry was sinking.

South Korea`s Yonhap news agency says the captain is also suspected of instructing passengers to remain seated, even as the ferry began rolling onto its side, blocking escape routes.

Authorities have not established the cause of the disaster, but some survivors report hearing a loud impact noise before the vessel tilted and began sinking.

A Yonhap report Friday said the inexperienced third mate may have made a sharp turn while piloting the ship at speeds too high for conditions. Investigators were quoted as saying the sudden turn may have caused 180 vehicles and nearly 1,200 tons of freight to shift, causing the vessel to list.

BDST: 1600 HRS, APR 20, 2014

Desk Report