The number of fatalities in South Korea's ferry sinking has gone up to 150 on Wednesday after hundreds of divers pulled out bodies from inside the submerged vessel.

The death toll is feared to further rise as 152 people onboard the ferry Sewol remained missing as of press time yesterday, authorities said.

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The search and rescue operation has entered its eighth day on Wednesday with no sign that someone could still be alive. The number of survivors remains unchanged at 174.

The operation was suspended several times since Tuesday night due to huge waves and strong currents. Authorities were hopeful that the divers will be able to further penetrate the vessel on Thursday when the currents are forecast to slow down.

At least 550 divers from the coast guard, navy and private organizations continued to look for any signs of survivors in the submerged vessel but found nothing but bodies of those who were trapped to death.

A total of 212 rescue vessels and 34 aircrafts also continue to scour the waters off Jindo Island on Wednesday to search for floating bodies.

The vessel was on its way to Jeju Island when it capsized near Jindo. Most of the passengers were high school students on their way to Jeju Island for their field trip.

In related development, South Korean prosecutors have ordered the arrest of four more crew members of the sunken ferry on charges of negligence of duty and violation of the country's rescue acts.

Vessel crew members said the passengers were not ordered to abandon ship even as the vessel had already listed heavily, refuting the claim of the captain that he ordered an abandon ship.

Three other crew members and the captain have earlier been arrested for abandoning the ship without first making sure that the passengers have been evacuated.