South Korean divers from a private company prepare for a search and rescue operation near the capsized passenger ship "Sewol" off Jindo April 19, 2014

A relative takes a swab from his mouth as part of a DNA test outside a gymnasium used as a gathering point for family members of missing passengers aboard the sunken South Korean ferry 'Sewol'

A member from the South Korean Navy's SSU (Ship Salvage Unit) dives into the sea near the sunken passenger ship Sewol during a rescue operation in the sea off Jindo April 19, 2014

Relatives express their frustration to police chief Choi Sang Han (C) during a briefing on the ongoing rescue and recovery operations of the sunken South Korean ferry 'Sewol', at a gymnasium used as a gathering point for family members of missing passengers

Relatives watch underwater footage of divers reaching the the sunken South Korean ferry 'Sewol' at a gymnasium used as a gathering point for family members of missing passengers

A relative weeps during a briefing on the ongoing rescue and recovery operations of the sunken South Korean ferry 'Sewol'

Relatives express their frustration during a briefing on the ongoing rescue and recovery operations of the sunken South Korean ferry 'Sewol'

A relative is restrained after striking a police spokesman during a briefing on the ongoing rescue and recovery operations of the sunken South Korean ferry 'Sewol'

Relatives watch underwater footage of divers reaching the the sunken South Korean ferry 'Sewol' at a gymnasium used as a gathering point for family members of missing passengers

South Korean monks pray for missing passengers of a capsized ferry at a harbor in Jindo on April 19, 2014

Policemen stand guard as South Korean relatives wait for missing passenger aboard a capsized ferry at a harbor in Jindo

Family members of a passenger (L, in photograph) who died on South Korean ferry "Sewol" which sank off Jindo, cry during his funeral in Incheon April 19, 2014.

Journalists ask Lee Joon-seok (C), captain of South Korean ferry "Sewol" which sank at sea off Jindo, questions as Lee walked out of court after an investigation in Mokpo April 19, 2014

Lee Joon-Seok, captain of South Korean ferry "Sewol"

Family members of missing passengers, who were on the South Korean ferry "Sewol" which sank at sea, listen along with media to a briefing from an official from the Korea Coast Guard about a rescue and search operation at a port in Jindo

South Korean rescue members search for the missing passengers of a capsized ferry at sea off Jindo

A South Korean Coast Guard helicopter takes off from its ship to search for the missing passengers

Family members of missing passengers who were on the South Korean ferry "Sewol" which sank at sea wait for news from a rescue team

South Korean rescue members search for the missing passengers near the buoys installed to mark a capsized ferry at sea

Rescue workers operate near floats where the capsized passenger ship "Sewol" sank

South Korean Navy's rescue member

South Korean Navy's divers try to rescue missing passengers

A South Korean Navy's SSU member (R) dives to rescue missing passengers

A family member of a missing passenger from South Korean ferry "Sewol"

A Buddhist monk prays for missing passengers

Song Byung-gu and his wife, whose granddaughter was on the ferry Sewol which sank in the sea off Jindo and has been missing, look at the sea with a pair of binoculars as they wait for news from a rescue team

Search and rescue workers

People sleep at a gymnasium used as a gathering point for relatives of the missing passengers aboard a capsized ferry in Jindo

Buddhists pray for the safe return of missing passengers

In a handout photo taken and released by the South Korean Coast Guard on April 18, 2014, South Korean divers prepare to search for passengers aboard a capsized ferry at sea off Jindo

Students post messages on a pillar for missing schoolchildren who are among the unaccounted for passengers trapped in a South Korean capsized ferry, at Danwon High School in Ansan on April 18, 2014

Buddhist monks pray for the safe return of missing passengers who were on a ferry

Students hold messages for missing schoolchildren who are among the unaccounted for passengers trapped in a South Korean capsized ferry, posted on the window of a locked classroom at Danwon High School in Ansan

Lee Joon-Seok (C), captain of the South Korean ferry Sewol which capsized on Wednesday, arrives at a court in Mokpo April 18, 2014.

Messages left by fellow students are stuck to the classroom windows of students missing in the South Korean ferry disaster at Danwon High School in Ansan April 18, 2014.

A medic helps the collapsed family member of a missing passenger from South Korean ferry "Sewol", which sank in the sea off Jindo, as she cries while waiting for news from the rescue team, at a gym in Jindo April 18, 2014.

Family members of missing passengers who were on South Korean ferry "Sewol", which sank in the sea off Jindo, cry as they wait for news from the rescue team, at a gym in Jindo April 18, 2014.

The family member of a missing passenger who was on South Korean ferry "Sewol", which sank in the sea off Jindo, is helped as she cries while waiting for news from the rescue team, at a gym in Jindo April 18, 2014.

The family member of a missing passenger from South Korean ferry "Sewol", which sank in the sea off Jindo, shouts as he complains to officials from the South Korean Coast Guard, as family members listen to a briefing about the rescue operation, at a gym in Jindo April 18, 2014.

The family member of a missing passenger who was on South Korean ferry "Sewol", which sank in the sea off Jindo, shouts as she complains to officials from the South Korean Coast Guard, as family members listen a briefing about the rescue operation

An overheard view shows relatives resting at a gymnasium used as a gathering point for relatives of the missing passengers aboard a capsized ferry, in Jindo on April 18, 2014

A woman (L) cries at a gymnasium used as a gathering point for relatives of missing passengers aboard a capsized ferry, in Jindo on April 18, 2014

The family member of a missing passenger who was on South Korean ferry "Sewol", which sank in the sea off Jindo, complains to an official from the South Korean Coast Guard as he listens to a briefing about the rescue operation, at a gym in Jindo

A Buddhist monk prays for the missing passengers who were on the South Korean ferry "Sewol", which sank in the sea off Jindo, at a port where family members of the missing have gathered, in Jindo April 18, 2014

Divers prepare for a search and rescue operation for the South Korean ferry "Sewol", which sank in the sea off Jindo, at a port where family members of the missing have gathered, in Jindo April 18, 2014

Divers prepare for a search and rescue operation for the South Korean ferry "Sewol", which sank in the sea off Jindo, at a port where family members of missing passengers have gathered, in Jindo April 18, 2014

Family members of the missing passengers who were on the South Korean ferry "Sewol", which sank in the sea off Jindo, cry as they look towards the port where others have gathered, in Jindo April 18, 2014

South Korean Navy's SSU (Ship Salvage Unit) members take part in the rescue operation near the upturned passenger ship "Sewol" which sank in the sea off Jindo, April 18, 2014

South Korean divers prepare to go the location where a ferry capsized two days ago, at a harbor in Jindo on April 18, 2014.

South Korean divers prepare to head out to sea to the location where a ferry capsized two days ago, at a harbor in Jindo

A man (L) sleeps on a row of spectator seats at a gymnasium used as a gathering point for relatives of the missing passengers aboard a capsized ferry

A woman weeps as others confront police chief Choi Sang Han (R) as relatives of missing passengers aboard a capsized ferry express frustration at conflicting reports of progress in the ongoing rescue and recovery operation

Police chief Choi Sang Han (R) explains rescue and recovery operations for the missing passengers aboard a capsized ferry as relatives watch at the jindo gymnasium in Jindo on April 18, 2014

A woman confronts police chief Choi Sang Han (R) as relatives of missing passengers aboard a capsized ferry express frustration at conflicting reports of progress in the ongoing rescue and recovery operation

A man confronts police chief Choi Sang Han (C) as relatives of missing passengers aboard a capsized ferry express frustration at conflicting reports of progress in the ongoing rescue and recovery operation

A woman confronts police chief Choi Sang Han

A Buddhist monk prays for missing passengers who were on the South Korean ferry "Sewol"

Rescue workers transport the body of a passenger onboard South Korean passenger ship "Sewol" that sank at sea off Jindo

South Korean coastguard and navy divers resumed searching on Thursday for about 290 people still missing, many of them students from the same high school, after a ferry capsized in sight of land.

Coast guard members search for passengers near a South Korean ferry (C) that capsized on its way to Jeju island from Incheon, at sea some 20 kilometres off the island of Byungpoong in Jindo

South Korean rescue teams, including elite navy SEAL divers, raced to find up to 293 people missing from a capsized ferry carrying 459 passengers and crew -- mostly high school students bound for a holiday island.

Part of South Korean passenger ship "Sewol" that has been sinking is seen as South Korean maritime policemen search for passengers in the sea off Jindo

Part of South Korean passenger ship "Sewol" that has been sinking is seen as South Korean maritime policemen search for passengers in the sea off Jindo

A girl rescued by South Korean maritime policemen from a sinking ship "Sewol" in the sea off Jindo, is treated at a port in Jindo

Part of South Korean passenger ship "Sewol" that has been sinking is seen as South Korean maritime policemen search for passengers in the sea off Jindo

More than 100 people remained missing on Wednesday after a South Korean ferry with 477 people aboard capsized off the country's southwest coast, Yonhap news agency said.

About 160 passengers, including high school students, were plucked to safety on Wednesday in a dramatic rescue from a South Korean passenger ferry "Sewol" sinking with 475 on board, officials said, although at least two people had died.

More than 100 people remained missing on Wednesday after a South Korean ferry with 477 people aboard capsized off the country's southwest coast, Yonhap news agency said.

An injured passenger who was on a sinking ship, is rescued by South Korean maritime policemen, in the sea off Jindo

Passengers are rescued by South Korean maritime policemen from a sinking ship "Sewol" in the sea off Jindo

An injured passenger rescued by South Korean maritime policemen from a sinking ship "Sewol" in the sea off Jindo, is treated at a port in Seogeochado

An injured passenger rescued by South Korean maritime policemen from a sinking ship in the sea off Jindo, is treated at a port in Jindo

A maritime police helicopter attempts to rescue passengers onboard South Korean ferry "Sewol" which capsized off Jindo

A South Korean maritime police helicopter rescues passengers from a sinking ship in the sea off Jindo

All 338 high school students and teachers on board a South Korean passenger ferry that was reported to be sinking on Wednesday have been rescued, a school official told Reuters.

The ferry, identified as the Sewol, was carrying about 470 passengers, including the students and teachers, en route to Jeju island, about 100 km (60 miles) south of the Korean peninsula.

It sent a distress signal after it began to list badly.

"The ship is taking in water and sinking," a coastguard spokesman told AFP by phone.

"There are around 450 people on board and we have coastguard vessels, commercial ships in the area, as well as helicopters all engaged in the rescue operation," the spokesman said.

Earlier reports had put the number of people on board at 350.

Most of the passengers were believed to be high school students on a trip to the southern resort island of Jeju.

The Yonhap news agency cited rescue agency officials as saying 130 passengers had already been taken off the stricken ferry, which ran into trouble 20 kilometres off the southern coast.

"We heard a big thumping sound and the boat stopped," one passenger told the YTN news channel by telephone. "The boat is tilting and we have to hold on to something to stay seated," the passenger said.

A South Korean passenger ship "Sewol" is seen in this undated photo

Maritime police search for missing passenger as lighting flares are released for a night search.

Rescued passengers cry at a gym where rescued passengers gather in Jindo April 16, 2014.

Maritime police search for missing passengers in front of the South Korean ferry "Sewol".

Mother of a passenger on the ferry.

A mother of a passenger onboard the ferry.

A father hugs his rescued daughter.

Relatives of missing passengers.

Survivors' name list.

Family members of missing passengers.

Family members of missing passengers.

A family member of a missing passenger.

Family members of missing passengers.

Family members of missing passengers.

A family member of a missing passenger who was on South Korean ferry "Sewol" which sank in the sea off Jindo cries after finding her son's name in the survivors list at a gym where rescued passengers gathered in Jindo

Family members of missing students who were on a South Korean ferry "Sewol" which sank in the sea off Jindo attend a candlelight vigil at Danwon High School in Ansan

Family members of missing passengers who were on the South Korean ferry "Sewol" which sank in the sea off Jindo, board a ferry ship heading to the accident site, at a port where family members of missing passengers have gathered, in Jindo

A ferry ship carrying family members of missing passengers who were on the South Korean ferry "Sewol" which sank in the sea off Jindo, sails towards the accident site off a port where family members of missing passengers have gathered, in Jindo

Family members of missing passengers who were on South Korean ferry "Sewol" which sank at the sea off Jindo wait for news of their family from a rescue teammembers, at a gym in Jindo

South Korean relatives of passengers on board a capsized ferry gather for news at a gym in Jindo

South Korean relatives of passengers on board a capsized ferry take a ship to go to the venue at a harbour in Jindo

South Korean relatives of passengers on board a capsized ferry take a ship to go to the venue at a harbour in Jindo

Family members of missing passengers who were on the South Korean ferry "Sewol" which sank in the sea off Jindo wait for the restartof search and rescue operations at a port where family members of missing passengers have gathered, in Jindo

A family member of a missing passenger who was on South Korean ferry "Sewol" which sank in the sea off Jindo collapses as she waits for news from a rescue team, at a gym in Jindo

Coast guard members search for passengers near a South Korean ferry (C) that capsized on its way to Jeju island from Incheon, at sea some 20 kilometres off the island of Byungpoong in Jindo

Members of the South Korean coast guard rescue passengers from the water next to a partially sunken ferry, off South Korea's southwest coast

Family members of missing passengers who were on a South Korean ferry "Sewol" which sank in the sea off Jindo cries as she waits for a rescue team's arrival at a port where family members of missing passengers gathered in Jindo

A body of a passenger who was on South Korean ferry "Sewol" which sank in the sea off Jindo is carried into a hospital in Jindo