Hopes drown with South Korean ferry for hundreds

A multi-storey ferry carrying 459 people, mostly high school students on an overnight trip to a tourist island, sank off South Korea's southern coast  on Wednesday, leaving nearly 300 people missing despite a frantic, hours-long rescue by ships and helicopters.

Here are some glimpses of a grief-stricken nation

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Rescued passengers cry at a gym where rescued passengers gather in Jindo 

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Maritime police search for missing passengers in front of the South Korean ferry "Sewol" which sank at the sea off Jindo

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In this screen shot handout of helicopter camera provided by the Republic of Korea Coat Guard, the ferry is seen sinking off as the rescue work continues the coast of Jindo Island

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A relative of one of the missing ferry passengers cries at Jindo port in Jindo-gun, South Korea

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South Korean ferry "Sewol" (left) is seen sinking at the sea off Jindo, as lighting flares are released for a night search

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Relatives of missing people wait at a Jindo port

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Maritime police search for missing passengers near the South Korean ferry "Sewol"

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Relatives of missing people wait at a Jindo port

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South Korean ferry "Sewol" is seen sinking at the sea off Jindo