ferry disaster the result of poor safety practices

Coast Guard and Navy divers search for the missing passengers from a capsized ferry at sea, some 20 kilometres off the South Korean island of Byungpoong, on April 17, 2014. - AFP

TOKYO: The sinking of a South Korean ferry was a major disaster caused by inadequate safety awareness on the part of the company operating the vessel, its captain and his crew, in combination with their poor and unskilled response to the emergency.

More than a week has passed since the ferry Sewol sank in waters off Jindo, in southwestern South Korea. The confirmed death toll from the tragedy has exceeded 100. Rescuers are continuing a desperate search for close to 200 people who are still missing.