South Korean ferry crashed because operator was on his phone, authorities allege

A passenger ferry carrying 267 people crashed in South Korea because the operator was on his phone, local authorities allege.

All passengers and crew were safely rescued on Wednesday, local time, after the vessel crashed into an uninhabited island off the country's South-Western coast.

It was travelling from Jeju island to the city of Mokpo when it round around at 8pm local time, the local coast guard said.

The incident rekindled memories in South Korea of the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster that killed more than 300 people, many of whom were children on a school trip.

Coast guard investigator in Mokpo Kim Hwang-gyun said crew members involved in Wednesday's crash had given conflicting testimonies.

Investigators said the first officer initially indicated there was a technical issue with the