South Korea ferry recovery ‘could take two months’

South Korean officials have said the recovery operation after Wednesday’s ferry disaster may take two months.

Divers are battling strong currents in poor visibility to reach 270 missing passengers - 32 are confirmed dead. Some 174 passengers have been rescued.

Relatives have begun providing DNA samples to help identify the dead.

He faces charges including negligence of duty and violation of maritime law.

Divers saw three bodies in the ship on Saturday but were unable to retrieve them.

Asked how long the rescue operation was likely to continue, Shin Won-Nam, the head of the Emergency Management Centre, told reporters that it could take weeks, if not months.

“We are not sure about it. But according to the experts, the rescue may last one or two months,” he said.

He added that it was very unlikely someone trapped alive after the sinking could survive if it took this long.

Investigations are focusing on a sharp turn the vessel took before it started listing and whether an evacuation order could have saved lives. Footage from the ship appeared to show instructions from crew members for passengers to remain on board even as it tilted dramatically to one side.

The ferry Sewol was sailing from Incheon, in the north-west, to the southern resort island of Jeju. It capsized and sank within two hours.

Mr Lee, who had already been questioned by police, was shown on television on Saturday after his arrest.

“I am sorry to the people of South Korea for causing a disturbance and I bow my head in apology to the families of the victims,” he said.