South Korean Ferry Disaster - Death Toll Rises to 61 as nearly 240 Many of Them High School Students Remain Missing

The death toll in the South Korean ferry disaster has risen to 61 as divers were able to enter the boat and discovered more than a dozen bodies. Nearly 240 people, many of them high school students, remain missing

Updated: April 20, 2014, 7:10 p.m. E.T.

The death toll in a ferry disaster off the South Korean coast officially roseto 61 on Sunday after divers entered the boat and discovered several bodies, the country’s coast guard announced.

Divers have had difficulty entering the Sewol ferry, which sank Wednesday off South Korea’s southern coast, due to low visibility, inclement weather and strong currents, the Associated Press reports. Divers finally entered the vessel late Saturday and discovered 13 bodies inside along with several more floating near the boat.

Nearly 240 people — many of whom were traveling high school students — remain missing.

The Sewol’s captain and two other crew members were arrested Saturday on suspicion of negligence. A transcript from the vessel’s communication system released Sunday reveals widespread confusion among passengers. Many of those aboard followed the captain’s initial orders to stay below deck, where authorities believe they have been trapped. The captain’s initial instructions for passengers to remain in the cabins have puzzled maritime experts.

It took more than half an hour since trouble was first detected for the captain to issue an evacuation order, which some survivors say they never heard.

Rescue workers carry the body of a passenger who was on the capsized Sewol passenger ship, which sank in the sea off Jindo, between lines of police officers, at a port where family members of missing passengers have gathered, in Jindo April 20, 2014.Kim Hong-Ji—Reuters