April's deadly sinking of the Sewol ferry is still fresh in everyone's mind. Local officials and organizations recently got together for a joint drill aimed at averting a similar loss life if such a situation were again to occur. Mike Laidman reports.



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Near Hwasoon Harbor, Seogwipo (September 26)

The situation is as follows: a passenger ferry that departed from Hwasoon Harbor has caught on fire.

In an instant, everything is in chaos.

The Korean Coast Guard responds immediately after receiving the accident report and successfully rescues the passengers who jumped into the sea.

From a helicopter, a SWAT team tries to enter the ferry.

Inside, they help the remaining passengers to evacuate.

Nearby fishing boats also participate in the rescue operation.

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Joint rescue drill held to prepare for maritime disasters

Determined not to repeat the Sewol ferry tragedy, this joint rescue drill was held.

The two main practice points of the drill were entering the ferry to search for any remaining passengers, and rescuing those who had jumped into the ocean as soon as possible.

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New rescue methods employed

To this end, various new rescue measures were employed.

A lifesaving fence based on those used to block the spread of oil spills was introduced.

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Camera: Hyeon Gwang-hoon

The fence was set up to keep passengers from being washed away by strong tidal currents.

Passengers evacuated into the ocean using evacuation slides.

Song Na-taek / Chief, Jeju Provincial Police Agency
The slide is very effective because it can be stowed on a boat and transferred to the scene in an emergency.
"이것은 접어서 함정에 보유하다 긴급상황이 발생하면 현장으로
옮겨서 설치해서 승객을 구조하기 때문에 상당히 효과적이다."


Experts analyzed the rescue methods and results, and determined everything was successful, performed as planned.


Lee Seong-ho / Vice minister of Safety and Public Administration
Through frequent rescue drills, we will be better able to rescue more passengers in an accident. But people should also take safety into their own hands.
"앞으로도 훈련을 많이 해서 한명의 승객이라도 더 구하도록 하겠다.
국민여러분도 안전을 스스로 생활화해서 자기 안전을 스스로 지킬수 있어야 한다."

[Reporter] Mike Laidman

To prevent accidents like the Sewol ferry tragedy from ever happening again, thorough preparations against various marine accidents are top priorities.

Mike Laidman, KCTV.