Why hasn't the Sewol ferry been salvaged by South Korea yet?

Many people believe that salvaging the sunken ferry could deprive those who may still be alive of any chance of survival.

According to AFP, some relatives of passengers on the Sewol ferry who are still missing believe it is time to use cranes to salvage the wreck. However, others oppose the salvage operation, fearing that doing so could kill those who may still be alive on board.

Cranes have been brought to the ferry sinking site in preparation for salvage operations (Photo: AP)

In fact, some people still hope for a miracle, believing that the airbags on the ferry could help the passengers survive even after five days. Meanwhile, many others are more realistic, hoping for a quick crane operation to salvage the vessel before it's too late.

The father of a student who was on the sunken ferry said, "I think it's time to use a crane. Salvaging the ferry as soon as possible will help us find the bodies before they are swept away by the currents or decompose due to prolonged exposure to water."

Another person agreed with this sentiment, saying, "Once hope is gone, I want to receive my loved one's body in an intact condition."

However, there are also many dissenting opinions arguing that salvaging the sunken ferry would deprive those who may still be alive of any chance of survival.

Chung Hye-sook, the parent of a missing student, said, "That option is unacceptable. What would happen if there were survivors inside the ferry? The only safe option is to use divers to access the inside of the ferry and bring people out."

Currently, many families have begun providing DNA samples to authorities to assist in the identification of victims in the ferry sinking.

According to the latest information from Yonhap, as of early morning on April 21, the death toll from the ferry sinking off the southwestern coast of South Korea has reached 64. Meanwhile, search operations will continue for the sixth consecutive day since the disaster occurred.

According to VOV