South Korean ferry strikes rocky island: all 267 people onboard safe

A loud bang had startled passengers during the night, causing panic and confusion, said passenger Kim Namhyun.

“I thought I might die. The sound was too loud,” said Kim, 51, a diving instructor on Jeju Island.

“But having seen the Sewol ferry, I knew that in situations like this, you have to stay calm, move outside, wear a life jacket, and wait,” said Kim, referring to the sinking of the Sewol ferry in 2014.