Sewol ferry salvaging operations get underway in South Korea

March 23 (UPI) -- The ferry that sunk off the coast of South Korea in April 2014 returned to the surface for the first time since the accident killed 304 people.

Families of the victims watched the Sewol being lifted out of the water by a Chinese company, Shanghai Salvage, which began work Thursday morning, South Korean news service No Cut News reported.

The recovery is taking place two weeks after President Park Geun-hye was removed from office by Seoul's constitutional court.

Park has been blamed in South Korea for her delayed reaction and seven-hour absence during the ferry sinking, although her non-appearance during the disaster did not violate the country's constitution, according to the judgment.

In Jindo County, South Jeolla Province, on Thursday, parents expressed grief over the tragedy that killed more than 100 young people.

"My son was the 220th body to be found, after 16 days," Shin Chang-sik told CNN. "I can't imagine how the children were shouting and calling for their mother and father on the ship, I feel sorry for him and at the same time I am sorry [I couldn't be there]."

Shin said the disaster "feels like yesterday."

Seoul's maritime and fisheries ministry said the hull of the Sewol had been lifted up 28 meters by 2 p.m. Thursday.

At least 6 meters of the ship have been lifted to the water's surface, according to No Cut News.

Lee Chul-jo, head of the Sewol salvaging committee, said 450 workers including 50 divers were carrying out salvaging operations.

The tragedy gripped the country for months, and Thursday's salvaging operations drew visceral reactions from South Koreans.

Kim Tae-yeon, a native of Wonju, Gangwon Province, snapped a photo of a cloud late Thursday that resembled the Sewol memorial ribbons that were distributed to raise awareness in the aftermath of the accident.

'Sewol ribbon' cloud highlights salvage operationhttps://t.co/xX0c3qjUq2#Sewol #Sewolferry #세월호 #세월호참사 pic.twitter.com/yY5rJDOy8U

— 코리아헤럴드 Korea Herald (@TheKoreaHerald) March 23, 2017

The photo has gone viral on social media, with some commenters suggesting the cloud formation may be a "message sent from heaven" in support of the ship's recovery, Yonhap reported.