April 25, 2014 / 12:20 PM

88 divers search for missing passengers trapped in capsized ferry off South Korean coast

The official death toll for the now-sunken ferry off the coast of South Korea reached 185 on Friday. 117 people remain missing as divers continue an underwater search of the five-story vessel.

Hull Technician 1st Class John Coffelt works on a hydraulic ram as a remote operated vehicle (ROV) looks on during a dive on the sunken Civil War Ironclad, USS Monitor, which rests 230 feet below the ocean's surface off the coast of Cape Hateras, North Carolina. (U.S. Navy/Chief Photographer's Mate Eric J. Tilford)

Hull Technician 1st Class John Coffelt works on a hydraulic ram as a remote operated vehicle (ROV) looks on during a dive on the sunken Civil War Ironclad, USS Monitor, which rests 230 feet below the ocean's surface off the coast of Cape Hateras, North Carolina. (U.S. Navy/Chief Photographer's Mate Eric J. Tilford)

SEOUL, April 25 (UPI) -- The South Korean government continued its search for the bodies of the 117 passengers still missing from the April 16 ferry accident.

The emergency task force said Friday's search was the most involved. "A total of 88 divers were put into the underwater search operation," senior Coast Guard official Koh Myung-suk told a press conference. The day's search efforts were focused on the third and fourth decks of the capsized five story vessel.

The ferry was carrying 476 people when it capsized off Jindo Island. 174 passengers were rescued on the day of the accident, including the captain and most of the crew.

The South Korean government said Friday that 185 people were confirmed dead while 117 remain missing.

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