President Obama sends condolences to families of victims of South Korean ferry sinking

U.S. President Barack Obama gives his condolences to the Republic of Korea and the families who lost loved ones after a ferry capsized. (Photo grabbed from Reuters video)
U.S. President Barack Obama gives his condolences to the Republic of Korea and the families who lost loved ones after a ferry capsized. (Photo grabbed from Reuters video)

(Reuters) — President Barack Obama expressed his condolences to the Republic of Korea and to the families who lost their loved ones after a ferry capsized on Wednesday (April 16).

“I just want to express on behalf of the American people, our deepest condolences to the Republic of Korea and families of all those who have seen their loved ones lost when a ferry sank within the last couple of days, ” Obama said at the beginning of a news conference at theWhite House on Thursday (April 17).

“Obviously, information is still coming in. We know that many of the victims of this terrible tragedy were students and American Navy personnel and Marines have already been on the scene helping with search and rescue. As one of our closest allies, our commitment to South Korea is unwavering in good times and in bad and that is something I will underscore during my visit toSeoul next week,” he added.

The vessel, carrying 475 passengers and crew, capsized during a journey from the port of Incheon to the holiday island of Jeju. Coast Guards recovered five more bodies late on Thursday (April 17), raising the death toll to 14 people. Another 179 passengers have been rescued, leaving 282 unaccounted for and possibly trapped in the vessel.