South Korea arrests four more sailors in ferry sinking case.

A South Korean prosecutor revealed that four crew members of the ill-fated SEWOL ferry have been detained on charges of failing to protect passengers in distress.

According to AP, on April 21, a South Korean prosecutor revealed that four crew members of the ill-fated SEWOL ferry have been detained on charges of failing to protect passengers in distress.

Prosecutor Ahn Sang-don said that among the four arrested were a first mate and a chief engineer. All four are accused of abandoning the ship and disregarding the lives of the passengers.

SEWOL ferry captain Lee Joon-seok wore a hood to avoid the press and passengers' relatives.

Prosecutors are currently considering whether to request a formal arrest warrant from the court so they can conduct a lengthy investigation.

Under South Korean law, arrest warrants issued by prosecutors are only valid for 48 hours. Without a formal arrest warrant from the court, suspects are released.

Video:  Five-year-old girl, daughter of a Korean-Vietnamese family, rescued from sinking ferry.

Earlier, on April 19, SEWOL ferry captain Lee Joon-seok appeared on television to apologize to the families of the passengers: "I bow my head in apology to the families of the victims. The temperature was very low and the seawater was cold, so we had to think carefully before allowing passengers to disembark. If they weren't wearing life vests, and even if they were, they were still at risk of being swept away by the current and facing other difficulties."

Lee Joon-seok was arrested in the early morning of April 18th. According to prosecutors, Lee had instructed the third mate to steer the ferry before it capsized.

Vietnam+