Chinese ferry sinks in Yangtze river with more than 400 missing – latest updates
- ‘Trapped passengers’ reportedly heard calling for help
- Five bodies recovered by rescuers
- Up to 12 survivors taken to shore
- Captain and chief engineer detained by police
- 458 were on board, most tourists aged 50 to 80
Updated
What we know so far
Information from China’s state-run media has been conflicting so far, but here is what we can ascertain about the sinking so far:
- More than 400 people on board the Eastern Star (or Dongfangzhixing) vessel remain missing.
- Five bodies have been recovered from the stricken ferry, which was carrying 458 people when it went down at around 9.30pm on Monday night not far from the city of Jingzhou in Hubei province.
- Rescue teams have reportedly heard trapped passengers shouting from within the upturned ship.
- Up to 12 survivors are believed to have been rescued from the scene.
- Among them were the ship’s captain and chief engineer, who are both now in police custody.
- The ship’s captain is reported to have said that the ship was hit by a cyclone.
- The Eastern Star issued no distress call and apparently sank within two minutes.
- The Chinese premier, Li Keqiang, isheading to the scene.
- The 406 passengers on board, most aged 50 to 80, were tourists who had booked a cruise with Xiehe Travel agency. Its Shanghai offices stayed shut on Tuesday as distraught relatives of the missing gathered outside.
- Also on board were five tour guides – one of whom was reported to be among the dead – and 47 crew members.
The spot where the ship capsized is part of the Damazhou waterway section, where the river is 15m meters (50 feet) deep.
Chinese authorities said more than 50 boats and 3,000 people had been deployed for the search-and-rescue efforts, including divers and 1,000 armed police officers.
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