#Sewol - The captain of the ferry that capsized off mainland South Korea earlier this year, costing the lives of 304 people on board, has received a 36-year jail sentence for his part in the disaster.

But as RTÉ News reports, Capt Lee Jun-Seok was also acquitted of the murder of those who died in the incident on 16 April, from which just 172 of the 476 passengers and crew were rescued.

The court ruling that prosecutors had failed to prove the most serious charge, of "homicide through wilful negligence", which carries the death penalty.

Capt Lee's sentence comes after similarly lengthy terms handed down to three other senior crew members on the Sewol, which sank some 100km off the mainland on route to the popular tourist island of Jeju, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

Most of those killed in the tragedy were high school students going on a field trip to the island – and controversy grew in the weeks after the incident as it emerged passengers were instructed to remain in their cabins despite the boat sinking rapidly.

RTÉ News has more on the story HERE.

#SouthKorea - At least two people have died, with some 300 still unaccounted for, after a ferry capsized and sank 100km off the coast of mainland South Korea yesterday (Tuesday 15 April).

According to RTÉ News, the passenger and car ferry Sewol began to list to port as it approached the island of Jeju and sank quickly.

A rescue operation is still underway, with some 160 passengers confirmed safe so far.

Weather conditions at the time are reported to have been fair, with calm seas.

The 20-year-old vessel was reportedly carrying 150 vehicles and 475 people, including a number of high school students and teachers on a field trip to the island, a popular tourist spot in the east Asian country.

South Korea in general is also a top destination for young Irish people teaching English as a second language to school-age children. It is unknown if any Irish people were on board the ferry.

RTÉ News has more on the story HERE.