CHINA-SHIP/YELLOW RIBBONS Yellow ribbons honour victims of Yangtze River boat disaster

Record ID: 150131

  • Title: CHINA-SHIP/YELLOW RIBBONS Yellow ribbons honour victims of Yangtze River boat disaster
  • Date: 6th June 2015
  • Summary: JIANLI COUNTY, HUBEI PROVINCE, CHINA (JUNE 5, 2015) (REUTERS) TRAFFIC DRIVING PAST FENCE WITH YELLOW RIBBONS TIED TO IT YELLOW RIBBONS TIED TO FENCE MAN TIDYING RIBBONS YELLOW RIBBONS HANGING OVER SCHOOL SIGN VARIOUS OF SCHOOL GIRLS LOOKING AT YELLOW RIBBONS AND WALKING AWAY (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) SCHOOL STUDENT AND VOLUNTEER, JIN LILI, SAYING: "We hung these (ribbons) up
  • Embargoed: 21st June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA9JBHZ75ERV9J6RE43U4SH4HBR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Residents of China's Jianli county have begun hanging yellow ribbons around town to show their support for the victims of the Yangtze River cruise ship disaster.
    Only 14 survivors, one of them the captain, have been found after the ship carrying 456 overturned in a freak tornado on Monday night. A total of 103 bodies have been found.
    Students at Jianli county's Yusha school began hanging the ribbons on the gates of their school early on Friday morning (June 5), prompting other residents to join them in the traditional Chinese display of prayers for the deceased.
    "We hung these (ribbons) up to express the hopes of the people from this country (China) for the deceased people, that they will be at peace, and we hope that the survivors, the 14 that survived will live on, stronger," said 14-year-old middle school student, Jin Lili.
    With prayers and wishes written across each ribbon, many residents, such as 60-year-old Li Shaohua, said they were moved by the display of support from the children and other residents.
    "Because this thing happened in Jianli, as Jianli residents we feel extremely, extremely, saddened. It's difficult to find the language to explain this. No one wants this kind of thing to happen," said Li.
    Local businesses have pledged to provide free services for families, the government, volunteers, search and rescue crews, as well as members of the media connected to the disaster.
    About 1,200 relatives have converged on Jianli county in Hubei province where the disaster happened.
    On Friday evening, dozens of relatives gathered in front of the crematorium, demanding to be allowed inside. Many carried bouquets of flowers.
    The crematorium gates were manned by uniformed police, who initially refused to let them inside. They were later allowed in after foreign reporters arrived on a government-organised bus tour.
    Relatives have asked the government to release the names of survivors and the confirmed deaths, and questioned why most of those rescued were crew members.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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