A ferry was raised from the sea off South Korea today nearly three years after it capsized and sank killing 304 people, mostly pupils on a school trip.
The Sewol, carrying 476 people, sank off the south-western island of Jindo on April 16, 2014.
Workers on two barges began the operation last night, rolling up 66 cables connected to a frame of metal beams placed beneath the ferry by divers.
By 3.45am, the Sewol’s stabiliser surfaced.
An hour later, the right side of the ferry emerged from 150ft of water.
Within a few hours, the ferry had been raised enough for workers to climb on and fasten it to the barges.
The bodies of 295 passengers were recovered after the sinking but nine are still missing.
Relatives, some watching from two fishing boats just outside the operation area, hope those remains will be found inside.
Lee Geum-hee, the mother of one missing student, said: “We just want one thing — for the ship to be pulled up so we can take our children home.”
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