Families of missing victims of Sewol ferry disaster mourn the victims at a religious ceremony Tuesday. [Press Corps]
All kinds of emotions crossed over South Korean people as bone fragments, which were suspected of the remains of nine missing victims, were found Tuesday on the deck of a transport vessel carrying the Sewol ferry that sank three years ago taking lives of more than 300 people.
Sadly, as people were relieved that at least one of the victims has finally found his or her way home, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced a shocking result of an on-site forensic inspection late Tuesday night, that the bone fragments are not from the victims but they were from an animal, possibly from a pig.
The ministry official apologized for causing a confusion which left many, including the bereaved families of the missing victims, frustrated and disappointed. According to the ministry, the bone fragments will be moved to the National Forensic Service headquarters for further investigation.
Sewol ferry was carrying 476 people including 325 high school students from Ansan. With only 75 students surviving from the tragic accident, the marine disaster shook the whole nation. The wrecked ferry was lifted off the seabed and onto a transport vessel last week, to be carried to a dock at Mokpo, a port some 300 kilometers (186 miles) southwest of Seoul.
When the wreckage arrives at the Mokpo dock next week, investigators will carry out a thorough search for the remains of the missing victims while searching for evidence to find out what have caused the sinking of the ship.
Park Sae-jin = swatchsjp@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
