Rescue workers search for a sunken ship at the Jianli section of the Yangtze River in Hubei Province, China, on June 2. (Photo : www.pbs.org)
Chinese authorities continue with the search and rescue operation, as 14 people have been saved while 435 are still missing and 7 are confirmed dead in the worst recorded ship disaster on the Yangtze River, the China Daily reported.
According to the report, the cruise ship Eastern Star capsized during a storm at around 9:28 on June 1, in the portion of the Yangtze that cuts through Hubei Province.
Premier Li Keqiang had already directed and coordinated a rescue campaign to find the other survivors of the tragedy, while President Xi Jinping has also called for an all-out rescue effort.
The Yangtze River Navigation Administration said that the cruise ship was on its way to Chongqing from Nanjing and traveling with 46 crew members, five tour guides and 405 tourists. Based on the passenger list, the youngest person was a three-year-old and the oldest was 83. Most of the passengers were aged between 50 and 80.
Premier Li has urged all government agencies, especially the Ministry of Transport, to help and contribute their resources in the rescue work, and he asked the local government in the area to deal with the aftermath of the disaster. He also called on officials to conduct an investigation into the cause of the disaster.
The survivors were later visited by Premier Li in a local hospital.
The report said that the ship's captain and chief engineer were among the survivors and were now in police custody for questioning.
The Xinhua News Agency reported that the captain claimed that the ship was hit by a tornado, causing it to tip over in just a minute.
The China Meteorological Administration confirmed on June 2, Tuesday, that a tornado had been spotted in the area.
Xinhua said that the ship was not overloaded, and that it was equipped with enough life jackets.
More than 3,000 people are participating in the rescue. The Chinese People's Liberation Army navy sent more than180 divers to the site, including a convoy of 20 trucks carrying assault boats.
Following the accident, the Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration launched a safety inspection of all ferries, passenger vessels, and hazardous goods vessels across the province.
As part of a month-long campaign that started on June 2, ship workers will be trained on safety issues and will take a review of emergency programs, hold drills, and determine flaws in the safety management. A thorough check of the weather alert system will also be conducted.
