Culture
The South Korea Ferry Disaster Can Be Seen From Space
The massive response to the deadly accident is so bright that it shines like a little city.
A catastrophe as massive as the South Korean ferry accident deserves an equally outsized response. And indeed the search-and-rescue teams have been out in full force, creating a light signature so intense that in the night sky it looks like a small city.
Since last week, the sinking of the Sewol ferry – which at last count had claimed roughly 100 lives with 200 people still missing – has attracted a virtual armada of assisting vessels. Newly released satellite images from NASA and NOAA reveals the frenzied marine activity off the country's southwest coast (look for the white arrow). For a size comparison, the brightest grouping of lights at the top of the island below the ferry's location is Jeju City, population roughly 435,000: