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Major rescue operation under way as South Korean ferry capsizes

Emergency services are on the scene of a capsized ferry off South Korea in a major rescue operation to save passengers.

The ferry, reportedly carrying mainly school students among the 476 people on board, was sailing from Incheon to the southern resort island of Jeju.

Two people have died and almost 150 more have been rescued, officials said. At least 290 people are believed to remain missing.

Passengers were told to jump into the sea to await rescue, the BBC reported.

A total of 34 naval, coastguard and civilian ships have been involved in rescue efforts, as well as 18 helicopters.

Images showed the ferry listing at a severe angle and then later largely submerged, with only a small part of its hull visible.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye ordered coast guard commandos to search the ship so that no-one was left behind, Yonhap news agency reported. Navy divers were also reportedly on the scene.

News agencies said the ferry sent out a distress signal about 12 miles off the island of Byungpoong at about 9am local time but it was unclear what had caused the incident.

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