Theories on how a South Korean passenger ferry suddenly sank

Josh Levs, CNN
3 minute read
Updated 7:35 AM EDT, Thu April 17, 2014
A relative of a victim weeps as she and others stand on the deck of a boat during a visit to the site of the sunken Sewol ferry on April 15, 2015 -- one day before the one year anniversary of the disaster.
South Korean ferry sinks —
A relative of a victim weeps as she and others stand on the deck of a boat during a visit to the site of the sunken Sewol ferry on April 15, 2015 -- one day before the one year anniversary of the disaster.
Ed Jones - Pool/Getty Images
A relative hands out flowers to others on the deck of a boat during a visit to the site of the sunken ferry. More than 100 relatives of victims of South Korea's Sewol ferry disaster tearfully cast flowers into the sea.
South Korean ferry sinks —
A relative hands out flowers to others on the deck of a boat during a visit to the site of the sunken ferry. More than 100 relatives of victims of South Korea's Sewol ferry disaster tearfully cast flowers into the sea.
ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images
A man hold a flower as he stands on the deck of a boat during a visit to the site of the sunken Sewol ferry, off the coast of South Korea's southern island of Jindo.
South Korean ferry sinks —
A man hold a flower as he stands on the deck of a boat during a visit to the site of the sunken Sewol ferry, off the coast of South Korea's southern island of Jindo.
ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images
The mother of Sewol ferry disaster victim, Danwon High School student Lim Kyung-Bin, attends a rally to pay tribute to the victims of the ferry disaster on April 11, 2015, Seoul, South Korea.
South Korean ferry sinks —
The mother of Sewol ferry disaster victim, Danwon High School student Lim Kyung-Bin, attends a rally to pay tribute to the victims of the ferry disaster on April 11, 2015, Seoul, South Korea.
Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Image
Relatives of victims of the Sewol ferry disaster march across a bridge over the Han river in Seoul on April 5, 2015. More than 200 people participated in the march from Ansan city. Many of them were the parents of the 250 students who died when the overloaded ferry sank off Jindo on April 16, 2014.
South Korean ferry sinks —
Relatives of victims of the Sewol ferry disaster march across a bridge over the Han river in Seoul on April 5, 2015. More than 200 people participated in the march from Ansan city. Many of them were the parents of the 250 students who died when the overloaded ferry sank off Jindo on April 16, 2014.
ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images
Relatives of victims of the Sewol ferry hold portraits of victims during a rally on April 5, 2015 in Seoul. Relatives, students and citizens attended the vigil to pay tribute to the victims of the ferry disaster and demanded that the wreckage be salvaged.
South Korean ferry sinks —
Relatives of victims of the Sewol ferry hold portraits of victims during a rally on April 5, 2015 in Seoul. Relatives, students and citizens attended the vigil to pay tribute to the victims of the ferry disaster and demanded that the wreckage be salvaged.
Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
Sewol ferry captain Lee Joon-Seok was acquitted of murder, avoiding a death sentence, but was sentenced to 36 years in jail on November 11 for his role in the maritime disaster that killed more than 300.
South Korean ferry sinks —
Sewol ferry captain Lee Joon-Seok was acquitted of murder, avoiding a death sentence, but was sentenced to 36 years in jail on November 11 for his role in the maritime disaster that killed more than 300.
Wonsuk Choi/AFP/Getty Images
Shoes believed to belong to the missing and the deceased are on display at the harbor.
South Korean ferry sinks —
Shoes believed to belong to the missing and the deceased are on display at the harbor.
K.J. Kwon
Jindo harbor, where the search operation is based, has become a memorial for those who lost their lives. Yellow ribbons and photos are displayed as people come to pay their respects.
South Korean ferry sinks —
Jindo harbor, where the search operation is based, has become a memorial for those who lost their lives. Yellow ribbons and photos are displayed as people come to pay their respects.
K.J. Kwon
A joint government-civilian task force is still looking for the missing, but winter is fast approaching.
South Korean ferry sinks —
A joint government-civilian task force is still looking for the missing, but winter is fast approaching.
K.J. Kwon
Ten are still missing from tragic ferry sinking last April, which killed more than 300. Six months later, families are still waiting for their loved ones to be found. The parents of 16-year-old Huh Da-yoon, pictured, are among them.
South Korean ferry sinks —
Ten are still missing from tragic ferry sinking last April, which killed more than 300. Six months later, families are still waiting for their loved ones to be found. The parents of 16-year-old Huh Da-yoon, pictured, are among them.
K.J. Kwon
The families of the ten who remain missing have been waiting in Jindo Indoor Gymnasium since the first day. Families can watch search mission in real time on a large monitor in the gym.
South Korean ferry sinks —
The families of the ten who remain missing have been waiting in Jindo Indoor Gymnasium since the first day. Families can watch search mission in real time on a large monitor in the gym.
K.J. Kwon
South Korean President Park Geun-hye weeps while delivering a speech to the nation about the sunken ferry Sewol at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, on Monday, May 19. More than 200 bodies have been found and nearly 100 people remain missing after the ferry sank April 16 off South Korea's southwest coast.
South Korean ferry sinks —
South Korean President Park Geun-hye weeps while delivering a speech to the nation about the sunken ferry Sewol at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, on Monday, May 19. More than 200 bodies have been found and nearly 100 people remain missing after the ferry sank April 16 off South Korea's southwest coast.
Do Kwang-hwan/Yonhap/Ap
Police in Seoul detain a protester during a march Saturday, May 17, for victims of the Sewol.
South Korean ferry sinks —
Police in Seoul detain a protester during a march Saturday, May 17, for victims of the Sewol.
YANG JI-WOONG/epa/LANDOV
A girl in Seoul holds a candle during a service paying tribute to the victims of the Sewol on Wednesday, April 30.
South Korean ferry sinks —
A girl in Seoul holds a candle during a service paying tribute to the victims of the Sewol on Wednesday, April 30.
Ahn Young-joon/AP
People pay tribute to victims at a memorial altar in Ansan, South Korea, on Tuesday, April 29.
South Korean ferry sinks —
People pay tribute to victims at a memorial altar in Ansan, South Korea, on Tuesday, April 29.
Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
A police officer holds an umbrella for a relative of a missing ferry passenger Monday, April 28, in Jindo, South Korea.
South Korean ferry sinks —
A police officer holds an umbrella for a relative of a missing ferry passenger Monday, April 28, in Jindo, South Korea.
Ahn Young-joon/AP
South Korean Buddhists carry lanterns in a parade in Seoul on Saturday, April 26, to honor the memory of the dead and the safe return of the missing.
South Korean ferry sinks —
South Korean Buddhists carry lanterns in a parade in Seoul on Saturday, April 26, to honor the memory of the dead and the safe return of the missing.
Divers search for people in the waters near Jindo on April 26.
South Korean ferry sinks —
Divers search for people in the waters near Jindo on April 26.
Yonhap/AP
People in Ansan attend a memorial for the victims on April 26.
South Korean ferry sinks —
People in Ansan attend a memorial for the victims on April 26.
NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty Images
A diver jumps into the sea near the sunken ferry on Friday, April 25.
South Korean ferry sinks —
A diver jumps into the sea near the sunken ferry on Friday, April 25.
Yonhap/AP
A relative of a passenger weeps while waiting for news of his missing loved one at a port in Jindo on April 25.
South Korean ferry sinks —
A relative of a passenger weeps while waiting for news of his missing loved one at a port in Jindo on April 25.
Ahn Young-joon/AP
People attend a memorial for the victims at the Olympic Memorial Hall in Ansan on Thursday, April 24.
South Korean ferry sinks —
People attend a memorial for the victims at the Olympic Memorial Hall in Ansan on Thursday, April 24.
KIM DOO-HO/AFP/Getty Images
Yellow ribbons honoring the victims flap in the wind as a hearse carrying a victim's body leaves Danwon High School in Ansan on April 24. Most of the people on board the ferry were high school students on their way to the resort island of Jeju.
South Korean ferry sinks —
Yellow ribbons honoring the victims flap in the wind as a hearse carrying a victim's body leaves Danwon High School in Ansan on April 24. Most of the people on board the ferry were high school students on their way to the resort island of Jeju.
Lee Jin-man/AP
People attend a memorial for the victims at Olympic Memorial Hall in Ansan.
South Korean ferry sinks —
People attend a memorial for the victims at Olympic Memorial Hall in Ansan.
KIM DOO-HO/AFP/Getty Images
Search personnel dive into the sea on Wednesday, April 23.
South Korean ferry sinks —
Search personnel dive into the sea on Wednesday, April 23.
Yonhap/AP
Flares light up the search area on Tuesday, April 22.
South Korean ferry sinks —
Flares light up the search area on Tuesday, April 22.
ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images
The sun sets over the site of the sunken ferry on April 22.
South Korean ferry sinks —
The sun sets over the site of the sunken ferry on April 22.
ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images
A relative of a ferry passenger prays as she waits for news in Jindo on April 22.
South Korean ferry sinks —
A relative of a ferry passenger prays as she waits for news in Jindo on April 22.
Ahn Young-joon/AP
The search for victims continues April 22 in the waters of the Yellow Sea.
South Korean ferry sinks —
The search for victims continues April 22 in the waters of the Yellow Sea.
YONHAP/EPA/LANDOV
Rescue workers in Jindo carry the body of a passenger on Monday, April 21.
South Korean ferry sinks —
Rescue workers in Jindo carry the body of a passenger on Monday, April 21.
Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
Divers jump into the water on April 21 to search for passengers near the buoys that mark the site of the sunken ferry.
South Korean ferry sinks —
Divers jump into the water on April 21 to search for passengers near the buoys that mark the site of the sunken ferry.
Yonhap/aP
Search operations continue as flares illuminate the scene near Jindo on Sunday, April 20.
South Korean ferry sinks —
Search operations continue as flares illuminate the scene near Jindo on Sunday, April 20.
Yonhap/AP
Relatives of missing passengers grieve April 20 in Jindo.
South Korean ferry sinks —
Relatives of missing passengers grieve April 20 in Jindo.
Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images