<p>South Korean prosecutors said today that the third officer was in charge of the bridge of a South Korean ferry when it capsized two days ago, leaving hundreds missing.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"It was the third officer who was in command of steering the ship when the accident took place," state prosecutor Park Jae-Eok said.<br /><br />"The captain was not in command when the accident took place," Park said told a press briefing on preliminary findings of the investigation into the disaster.<br /><br />Captain Lee Joon-Seok, who has become a focus of public anger for escaping the ferry while hundreds of others were trapped, was "in the back", Park said, without elaborating.<br /><br />Most experts believe the ship either hit a rock or made a sharp turn that shifted its heavy cargo consignment -- including more than 150 vehicles -- and caused it to list and capsize on Wednesday morning.<br /><br />"Whether or not they took a drastic turnaround ... is under investigation," Park said, adding that they were also looking at the possibility of steering or other mechanical failure.<br /><br />Chief prosecutor Lee Seong-Yoon said there was "no limit" to the range of the investigation and promised that the precise cause of the sinking would be revealed.<br /><br />"We will make sure... those responsible are sternly held accountable," Lee said.</p>
<p>South Korean prosecutors said today that the third officer was in charge of the bridge of a South Korean ferry when it capsized two days ago, leaving hundreds missing.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"It was the third officer who was in command of steering the ship when the accident took place," state prosecutor Park Jae-Eok said.<br /><br />"The captain was not in command when the accident took place," Park said told a press briefing on preliminary findings of the investigation into the disaster.<br /><br />Captain Lee Joon-Seok, who has become a focus of public anger for escaping the ferry while hundreds of others were trapped, was "in the back", Park said, without elaborating.<br /><br />Most experts believe the ship either hit a rock or made a sharp turn that shifted its heavy cargo consignment -- including more than 150 vehicles -- and caused it to list and capsize on Wednesday morning.<br /><br />"Whether or not they took a drastic turnaround ... is under investigation," Park said, adding that they were also looking at the possibility of steering or other mechanical failure.<br /><br />Chief prosecutor Lee Seong-Yoon said there was "no limit" to the range of the investigation and promised that the precise cause of the sinking would be revealed.<br /><br />"We will make sure... those responsible are sternly held accountable," Lee said.</p>