Ship worker Liu Jun has mixed feelings toward the ocean. It offers mystery, but also engulfs lives.

While search efforts are continuing for the Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 with 239 people on board that was believed to have ended in the Indian Ocean more than a month ago, a passenger ship carrying 475 people capsized in waters off the southwest coast of the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday.

"Human beings are so tiny and powerless," said Liu, chief engineer of China's scientific expedition vessel "Xiangyanghong 09". "May the deceased rest in peace, and the alive pull together and carry on."

At least nine people have died and 287 others are still missing after "Sewol" capsized and sank off Jindo Island, near the southwestern tip of the Korean Peninsula.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Thursday at a regular press briefing that China was saddened by the accident, adding that Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday expressed his sympathy to his ROK counterpart Yun Byung-se and promised to provide help for search and rescue efforts whenever needed.

According to the ROK coast guard department, a Chinese vehicle was on board and two Chinese nationals were possibly on the ship and are believed to be missing, Hua said.

The accident has concerned not only the government, but also the Chinese public.

Li Shun, a resident in Jinan, capital of Shandong Province, said he was deeply moved when a news report said a missing student onboard had sent a text message to his mother, which read, "Mom, in case I never have a chance to say this, I love you."

"The mother must be devastated. I sincerely hope the missing child is safe and sound," he said.

Shandong is the nearest Chinese province from the ROK. Thousands of Korean enterprises are located in its coastal city of Qingdao.

"We don't know what to say. Just as you (Chinese) are concerned about the whereabouts of MH370 with Chinese people onboard, we are also very worried about our compatriots," said a Korean company manager, who asked not to be named.

On the Internet, netizens lit virtual kindles to pray for the missing victims, most of whom were high school students.

Maritime authorities in Shandong on Thursday morning held a video conference, ordering relevant departments to learn a lesson from the accident and ensure the safety of passenger shipping services.

Yuan Zongxiang, chief of Shandong Maritime Safety Administration, said with the Labor Day holiday approaching, the province, with an annual shipping capacity of 30 million passengers, will soon enter its busiest period of the year.

To make full preparations, the administration has started a three-week passenger ship safety inspection campaign. "It is always necessary to learn lessons," he said.