Heartbreaking text message exchanges between students trapped in the sinking ferry off the coast of South Korea and their anxious parents are offering a glimpse into the desperate situation in the crippled vessel.
"Dad, don't
worry. I've got a life vest on and we're huddled together," one
18-year-old student, identified only by her last name, Shin, texted her
father, according to MBC News, a Korean news station.
The father replied: "I know the rescue is underway but make your way out if you can."
"Dad, I can't walk out," she replied. "The corridor is full of kids, and it's too tilted."
The student was among the 287 still reported missing.
In another exchange, a male student texted his mother, who was unaware at the time that the ferry was in distress.
"Mom, I might not be able to tell you in person. I love you," the student texted, according to MBC.
"Me too, son. I love you," the mother texted back, followed with three heart symbols.
Fortunately, that student was among the 179 people who have been rescued, MBC reported.
And
one family said they had received a text message saying “I am alive”
from one of the missing people while still on board, Korean news agency
NEWSIS reported. It was unclear if that person had been rescued.
Survivors
told harrowing tales of confusion and desperation as people slid along
the floor of the sharply listing ship, colliding with one another, or
found themselves trapped in cabins by a wall of water.
Rescued
passengers said that immediately after they heard a booming noise, the
ship began listing and they heard an announcement over the ship’s PA
system telling the passengers to stay in place.
“The baggage was falling
out, and we were saying ‘What’s going on?’ But the announcement told us
to stay where we were, so we did,” one rescued student told MBC.
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