Cruise ship death toll rises to 406
Print Edition
THE death toll from a Chinese cruise ship that capsized during a storm in the Yangtze River jumped to 406 yesterday, leaving 36 people still missing, as the boat operator apologized and said it will cooperate with investigations.
Only 14 survivors, one of them the captain, have been found after the ship carrying 456 overturned in a freak tornado on Monday night.
Rescuers are searching the cabins of the four-level ship, which was righted and raised on Friday, looking for more bodies.
Hu Kaihong, the vice director-general of the press bureau of the State Council Information Office, told a news conference that authorities had requested anyone on or near the river to alert them if they see any floating bodies.
Authorities are increasing their efforts to search for the missing and have expanded the target area from the middle reaches of the Yangtze more than 1,000 kilometers downstream to Shanghai, he said.
Yesterday morning, the body of the youngest victim, a three-year-old girl, was found on the fourth floor of the upturned vessel. State television showed pictures of workers clad in protective gear and wearing masks prizing open doors with crowbars and using axes to clear away debris.
Rescuers are trying to shed load from the “Eastern Star” to help it float by itself, as mattresses, sofas and quilts that rolled to the left side of the ship have absorbed too much water, making it hard for the cruiser to stay float. The ship is currently being held up by three floating cranes.
Jiang Zhao, general manager of the company that operated “Eastern Star,” bowed in apology for the disaster during an interview with media, saying the company will “fully” cooperate with the investigation.
“From the very moment this happened I have been immersed in sorrow,” he told state television.
Beijing has pledged there will 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.
More than 1,400 family members have traveled to Jianli in central China’s Hubei Province, where the ship went down.
As a mark of respect for the victims of the tragedy, state television will suspend programs and advertisements that “highlight celebrations” for the next three days, Xinhua news agency said.
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