South Korea ferry sinking: 'I am sorry,' captain says as 287 still missing

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• "How can I sleep when my daughter is in the cold ocean?" a mother asks
• Only one of 46 lifeboats on the ferry was deployed, YTN says
• Some are hoping isolated air pockets on the ship may yield survivors
• At least 9 people are dead and 287 are missing, the coast guard says

Jindo, South Korea (CNN) -- There were 46 lifeboats attached to the South Korean ferry that sank in frigid waters -- but only one lifeboat was deployed, CNN affiliate YTN reported Thursday.

CNN has not been able to independently confirm the report. But if true, it will fuel the anger of families still waiting to hear the fate of 287 passengers still missing at sea.

Video acquired by affiliate JTBC showed at least 12 of the white survival capsules still attached to the ferry, even as it was keeled over in the water. The survival capsules hold the lifeboats.

More than 24 hours have passed since the 6,800-ton ferry sank Wednesday morning.

Nine people are dead. At least 179 have been rescued.

But no one knows whether the missing 287 are alive, perhaps on the ship, or if they succumbed to the water about 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit.)

The captain of the ferry broke down in tears when asked if he had anything to say to the missing passengers' families.

ref:http://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/17/world/asia/south-korea-ship-sinking/