The relatives of scores of missing ferry passengers off the coast of South Korea are watching with bated breath as the news on the Sewol trickles in on the second day after it went down. South Koreans have expressed empathy and astonishment at the tragedy. "A whole country prays for a miracle," read a headline in the Korea Times, dpa reported. "The ferry tragedy could have been prevented," the Chosun Ilbo wrote. Apart from reports about the anguish of relatives, local media was also publishing text messages from passengers apparently sent while the ferry was sinking. "Mama, I'm sending you this because I will probably no longer be able to say that I love you," a cable news broadcaster reported a pupil as texting. The reports make clear that many were well aware of the danger of their situation. "I think that we really are all going to die," one of the passengers messaged to a student chat room. The police denied reports that messages have been received since the Sewol capsized. Details of courageous behaviour on the part of passengers and crew have also emerged. Among the crew was 22-year-old Park Ji Young, whose body is among those found. When the life jackets ran out on the third deck, she remained calm and ran to the upper deck to fetch more for the frightened pupils, Arirang TV reported. Young told one of the passengers she intended to be the last to leave the sinking ship. -- SPA 20:22 LOCAL TIME 17:22 GMT تغريد
