Major emergency rescue operation launched as South Korean passenger ship sinks

A major rescue operation has begun after a South Korean ship carrying 476 passengers reportedly sank off the country's southwest coast.

One passenger has been reportedly confirmed dead by the Coast Guard.

The passengers, mainly school children, were travelling with several teachers from Incheon to the southern resort island of Jeju.

According to CNN, the distress signal was received from the ferry, identified as the Sewol, around 9 AM (local time).

While 150 passengers have been rescued until now, the others were asked to jump off the ship and await rescue.