State President Truong Tan Sangon April 17 sent a message of sympathy to President Park Geun-hye over aferry disaster off the Republic of Korea’s coast on April 16 which hasled to several deaths and left many people missing.
On the day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minhcalled a message of sympathy to Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se.
At the Foreign Ministry’s regular press conference on the day,spokesperson Le Hai Binh extended deep condolences to the families ofthose who lost their lives in the disaster.
Binhsaid Vietnam has followed the developments with worry after learning theferry had capsized and held out hope that the RoK Government’s searchand rescue teams will soon locate those still missing.
On April 16, the multi-deck vessel, which had 475 people on board,suddenly listed, capsized and then sank within the space of 90 minutesoff the RoK’s southwestern coast. Nine people have been confirmed deadand 287, mostly schoolchildren, are still unaccounted for.-VNA