(LEAD) S. Korea moves salvaged ferry onto land

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SEOUL, April 9 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean government said Sunday the salvaged Sewol ferry has been moved onto land around 1 p.m.

The work started at 9:00 a.m., after completing the final test for the transfer operation, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said.

Some 600 module transporters moved the ill-fated vessel from a semisubmersible transport ship to a dry dock.

The ferry sank off the country's southwestern coast near Jindo Island in April 16, 2014, leaving 304 people dead. Nine victims have yet to be recovered.

The wreck was raised from the seabed late last month and moved on a semisubmersible ship to a port in Mokpo on March 31. Due to water and mud, the 6,800-ton ferry is estimated to weigh around 16,000 tons at present.

The government said the whole loading process to safely anchor the ship on land is likely to end by early Monday morning. Then inspectors will start searching for any remains of the nine victims still unaccounted for.

elly@yna.co.kr
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