295th Sewol Victim Found on Sunken Ferry

Six months after the fatal Sewol ferry sinking in South Korea, a victim's body was discovered by divers inside the wreckage on Tuesday.

The heavily-decomposed body was found on the fourth floor in the women's bathroom, located at the center of the sunken ferry, according to the South Korea joint task force, in charge of the search.

The body has not been retrieved yet, due to poor water visibility and limited space. Search officials believe the victim is female, reports CNN.

Nine victims remain missing after the ferry sank on April 16, killing at least 295 people. It has been 102 days since the last body was recovered from the ferry. On July 18, a cook’s body was located in the ferry’s cafeteria. The ferry sank 195 days ago.

The underwater search has continued in the months following the disaster, depending on weather conditions. Officials have said they will not stop the search operation unless families wish otherwise. But many question the impact the approaching winter season will have on the search.

The Sewol disaster has caused widespread public outrage in South Korea over negligent safety standards and the failure to rescue more people as the ship sank. Several members of the crew are facing trial -including the captain who will learn his verdict on November 11.

The Sewol tragedy has been noted as the country’s worst peacetime disaster in decades.