A South Korean passenger ferry that capsized and sank nearly three years ago killing more than 300 people has started to be lifted from the water.

The sinking of the Sewol in violent seas on 16 April 2014 caused an outpouring of national grief, as most of those who died were students on a high school trip.

Public outrage over what was seen as a botched rescue job by the government contributed to the recent ousting of Park Geun-Hye as president.

Workers on two barges began the salvage operation of the 6,800-ton vessel on Wednesday night by slipping 66 cables underneath the ferry, which has been lying on its left side in 40m (130ft) of water.

An official from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said workers need to raise the ferry until its upper side is about 13m (42ft) above the surface.


Salvage crews will then load the ferry onto a semi-submersible vessel that will carry it to a port. The loading process, including emptying the ferry of water and fuel, is expected to take days.

Image: President Park Geun-Hye was removed from office earlier this month

The bodies of 295 passengers were recovered after the sinking, but nine are still missing.

Relatives are hoping that those remains will be found inside the ferry.

Lee Geum-hee, the mother of one of the missing students, said: "We just want one thing - for the ship to be pulled up so that we can take our children home."

:: Two dead as South Korean court throws out scandal-hit President

President Park was forced to defend herself against claims that she was out of contact for several hours on the day of the sinking.

The allegations were included in an impeachment bill lawmakers passed against Ms Park in December, amid broader corruption suspicions.

South Korea's Constitutional Court formally removed Ms Park from office earlier this month.