A ferry that was carrying high school students and teachers to the resort island of Jeju sank off the southern coast of South Korea on Wednesday, killing at least four people and prompting a massive rescue effort for nearly 300 others believed to be missing
Rescue helicopters flying over the passenger ship <em>Sewol</em> as it sinks in waters off South Korea's southwestern coast on April 16, 2014
Rescue helicopters flying over the passenger ship Sewol as it sinks in waters off South Korea's southwestern coast on April 16, 2014 Yonhap—EPA
South Korea Coast Guard members rescuing some of the passengers and crew aboard a South Korean ferry sinking on its way to Jeju island from Incheon, April 16, 2014 .
South Korea Coast Guard members rescuing some of the passengers and crew aboard a South Korean ferry sinking on its way to Jeju island from Incheon, April 16, 2014 . South Korea Coast Guard/AFP/Getty Images
Coast guard members searching for passengers near a South Korean ferry that capsized on its way to Jeju island from Incheon, April 16, 2014.
Coast guard members searching for passengers near a South Korean ferry that capsized on its way to Jeju island from Incheon, April 16, 2014. Dong-A Ilbo—AFP/Getty Images
Passengers are rescued by the Republic of Korea Coast Guard from a ferry sinking off the coast of Jindo Island on April 16, 2014 in Jindo-gun, South Korea.
Passengers are rescued by the Republic of Korea Coast Guard from a ferry sinking off the coast of Jindo Island on April 16, 2014 in Jindo-gun, South Korea. Korea Coast Guard/Getty Images
Rescued passengers, wrapped in blankets, being brought onto land in Jindo after a South Korean ferry carrying 477 passengers and crew capsized on its way to Jeju island from Incheon, April 16, 2014.
Rescued passengers, wrapped in blankets, being brought onto land in Jindo after a South Korean ferry carrying 477 passengers and crew capsized on its way to Jeju island from Incheon, April 16, 2014. Yonhap/AFP/Getty Images
A rescued girl being brought onto land in Jindo after a South Korean ferry carrying 477 passengers and crew capsized on its way to Jeju island from Incheon, April 16, 2014.
A rescued girl being brought onto land in Jindo after a South Korean ferry carrying 477 passengers and crew capsized on its way to Jeju island from Incheon, April 16, 2014. Yonhap/AFP/Getty Images
A Woman cries at Jindo port on April 16, 2014 in Jindo-gun, South Korea.
A Woman cries at Jindo port on April 16, 2014 in Jindo-gun, South Korea. Chung Sung-Jun—Getty Images
South Korean relatives wait for missing people at a harbor in Jindo on April 16, 2014 as 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.
South Korean relatives wait for missing people at a harbor in Jindo on April 16, 2014 as 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. Jung Yeon—Je—AFP/Getty Images
South Korean ferry "Sewol" is seen sinking at the sea off Jindo, as lighting flares are released for a night search, April 16, 2014. Kim Hong-Ji—Reuters