Families of the 287 people, mostly high school students, in the South Korea sea tragedy continue to wait anxiously on the fate of their loved ones as Navy divers and coast guards continue to search in the ship's wreckage despite harsh weather conditions.

To date, nine people have been confirmed dead and officials said the death toll may continue to rise.

Like Us on Facebook

Rescue operations resumed at daybreak Thursday and the coastguard said 179 people had been rescued out of the 475 passengers aboard the ill-fated ship.

The ship captain is now under investigation by maritime police. The investigators are also ascertaining the vessel's safety and rescue conditions when it sank.

"I am sorry. I have nothing to say." the captain said when interviewed by South Korean TV network JTBC.

The state-run Chinese news agency Xinhua said that two out of the 475 passengers of the sunken ship were Chinese nationals, based on the sattement released by the Chinese Embassy, but this has yet to be confirmed by South Korean authorities.

Heartbreaking stories from the families of the missing high school students spread around, and one could not help but be moved to tears.

Text message exchanges between the parents and the trapped high school students showed a glimpse into the desperate situation in the sunken vessel.

"Dad, don't worry. I've got a life vest on and we're huddled together," one 18-year-old student texted her father, the Korean news station MBC News reported. 

To which the father replied: "I know the rescue is underway but make your way out if you can."

"Dad, I can't walk out," she replied. "The corridor is full of kids, and it's too tilted."

The student was among the 287 still reported missing.

In another exchange of text messages, a son student told his mother, who was unaware of the incident, that he loves her in rather heartbreaking words.

"Mom, I might not be able to tell you in person. I love you," MBC News reported, quoting the text exchanges between the son and his mother.

"Me too, son. I love you," the mother texted back, followed with three heart symbols.

The student was one of the 179 people who were rescued by the coastguard, MBC News said.