CHINA-SHIP/MOURNING UPDATE Chinese cruise ship passengers mourned as death toll exceeds 400

Record ID: 150397

  • Title: CHINA-SHIP/MOURNING UPDATE Chinese cruise ship passengers mourned as death toll exceeds 400
  • Date: 7th June 2015
  • Summary: JIANLI COUNTY, HUBEI PROVINCE, CHINA (JUNE 7, 2015) (REUTERS) CRUISE SHIP HELD UP BY CRANES AND RESCUE SHIP WORKER ENTERING COMPARTMENT OF SHIP WORKERS IN BIOHAZARD SUITS ON SHIP SHIP ON WATER VARIOUS OF EXTERIORS OF SHIP VARIOUS OF RECOVERY WORKERS WALKING IN A LINE (SOUNDBITE) RECOVERY WORKER FROM HUBEI PARAMILITARY RESERVES, LI GUANG, SAYING: "(Those people) have been l
  • Embargoed: 22nd June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAE19DXR3BI6C7TVR84KQ10BKL6
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The death toll from a Chinese cruise ship which capsized during a storm on the Yangtze River reached 406 on Sunday (June 7), leaving fewer than 40 still missing, as officials and rescuers bowed in mourning towards the wreck.
    Sunday marks seven days since the Eastern Star went down, and according to Chinese tradition this a key date on which to mourn the dead.
    Rescue workers and government officials stood on the deck of a barge facing the Eastern Star, removing their hats and bowing their heads, as surrounding boats sounded their horns.
    "(Those people) have been lost. Their families have been destroyed. And they lost their family members. I feel much grief," said Li Guang, a member of the Hubei paramilitary reserves involved in the operation.
    Only 14 survivors, one of them the captain, have been found after the ship carrying 456 overturned in a freak tornado on Monday (June 1) night in Jianli in Hubei province. Most of the passengers were elderly tourists.
    The four-storied ship was righted and raised on Friday (June 7), allowing rescuers to board and clear away debris, break down cabin doors and look for the remaining missing.
    Families members are also expected to gather on the river banks for ceremonies.
    The company which operated the ship has already apologised for the disaster.
    General Manager Jiang Zhao bowed in apology for the disaster during an interview with state television broadcast on Saturday (June 6), saying they would "fully" cooperate with the investigation.
    Beijing has pledged there would be "no cover-up" in the probe.
    Police have detained the captain and chief engineer for questioning as part of the investigation. An initial probe found the ship was not overloaded and had enough life vests on board.
    It is China's worst shipping catastrophe in seven decades.
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