Cabinet passes ordinance to probe ferry sinking

SEOUL, May 6 (Yonhap) -- The Cabinet approved Wednesday an ordinance for the investigation into the cause of last year's deadly ferry sinking which took more than 300 lives.

The ordinance allows a special committee of 90 private- and public-sector experts to probe the cause of the sinking of the 6,825-ton ferry Sewol.

The ferry sank off the southwest coast on April 16, 2014, en route to the southern island of Jeju from the port of Incheon, leaving 304 people dead or missing.

Bereaved families have called for a thorough probe of the cause of the accident, partly blamed on the government's botched initial rescue operations and lax supervision of safety regulations.

The ordinance empowers the government to appoint an official to lead the investigation for up to one year. The duration can be extended by six months pending the committee's decision.

The ordinance will be put into force immediately after President Park Geun-hye's approval expected sometime later this month.

Some members of the bereaved families and civic groups have complained the ordinance does not give enough power and independence to the committee.

pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)