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Chinese ship capsizes on Yangtze with hundreds missing Chinese ship capsizes on Yangtze with hundreds missing
(about 2 hours later)
Five people have died and hundreds are missing after a cruise ship carrying 458 people capsized on the Yangtze River in China's Hubei province.Five people have died and hundreds are missing after a cruise ship carrying 458 people capsized on the Yangtze River in China's Hubei province.
The ship is floating upside down in a wide stretch of river - state media said rescuers tapping the hull had heard calls for help from inside. State media said rescuers heard calls from inside the upside-down hull and about a dozen people were rescued.
The boat, the Eastern Star, reportedly sent no emergency signal. The boat, the Eastern Star, reportedly sent no emergency signal. The alarm was raised by those who had swum to shore.
Media reports say the alarm was raised by several people who had swum to shore and alerted the police. The captain and the chief engineer are among those rescued and detained. They say the boat was caught in a cyclone.
Chinese media quoted them as saying the vessel sank within minutes, while many people were asleep.
Most of those on board were tourists aged around 50 to 80 travelling from the eastern city of Nanjing to Chongqing in the south-west - a journey of at least 1,500km (930 miles).Most of those on board were tourists aged around 50 to 80 travelling from the eastern city of Nanjing to Chongqing in the south-west - a journey of at least 1,500km (930 miles).
The ship sank in the Damazhou waterway section of the Yangtze, where the world's longest river reaches depths of about 15m (50ft) deep.
Analysis: John Sudworth, BBC News, BeijingAnalysis: John Sudworth, BBC News, Beijing
No doubt for some of those on the Eastern Star it would have been the trip of a lifetime.No doubt for some of those on the Eastern Star it would have been the trip of a lifetime.
And the Three Gorges Dam, a place of pilgrimage in its own right and a powerful symbol of China's rising economic might attracting around two million visitors a year, now has its part to play in the rescue. The dam's engineers have been ordered to reduce the water volume flowing through the giant turbines.And the Three Gorges Dam, a place of pilgrimage in its own right and a powerful symbol of China's rising economic might attracting around two million visitors a year, now has its part to play in the rescue. The dam's engineers have been ordered to reduce the water volume flowing through the giant turbines.
The sinking of the Eastern Star will resonate widely.The sinking of the Eastern Star will resonate widely.
A boat full of everyday Chinese tourists - from grandmothers and grandfathers down to the youngest listed passenger at just three years old - has been lost in the waters of the country's best loved river.A boat full of everyday Chinese tourists - from grandmothers and grandfathers down to the youngest listed passenger at just three years old - has been lost in the waters of the country's best loved river.
Yangtze River tragedy on trip of a lifetimeYangtze River tragedy on trip of a lifetime
Rescue work has been hampered by strong winds and heavy rain. Shock and questions over Yangtze sinking
Only about 12 people have been rescued so far and some with minor injuries have been taken to hospital, said state media. A 65-year-old woman is among those rescued - earlier reports said she was 85. Emergency workers are trying to free passengers trapped inside the upside-down hull of the ship, China's People Daily reports, following the rescue of a 65-year-old woman more than 15 hours after the ship sunk.
But strong winds and heavy rain are hampering the rescue efforts.
At least 14 people have so far been rescued and some with minor injuries have been taken to hospital, said state media.
The BBC's Jo Floto in Beijing says that China has not seen a disaster on such a scale for a long time.The BBC's Jo Floto in Beijing says that China has not seen a disaster on such a scale for a long time.
The government has exerted huge control over information coming out from the scene, with local journalists stopped from getting close to the scene, he adds.The government has exerted huge control over information coming out from the scene, with local journalists stopped from getting close to the scene, he adds.
Captain detained
Thousands of soldiers and rescue personnel have been deployed, and a high-powered salvage ship is on the way to pull the boat upright, reported China Central Television (CCTV).Thousands of soldiers and rescue personnel have been deployed, and a high-powered salvage ship is on the way to pull the boat upright, reported China Central Television (CCTV).
The state broadcaster said on its Weibo microblog account that divers had knocked on the hull underwater and had heard cries of help from within. It said later that rescuers above water had established contact with those trapped inside. State TV footage showed divers using hammers to knock on the submerged hull to make contact with people believed to be trapped below, after hearing cries for help from within.
The captain and the chief engineer, who were both rescued after more than an hour in the water, have reportedly been detained by police.
They were quoted earlier as saying that the boat had been caught in a cyclone and sank within minutes, while many people were asleep.
Premier Li Keqiang, who is travelling to Hubei province, has ordered a team from the state council to lead the search and rescue operation, said Xinhua.
Meanwhile President Xi Jinping has ordered that no efforts should be spared in the rescue operation, according to state media.
Distraught relativesDistraught relatives
Eastern Star - Dongfangzhixing in Chinese - had been carrying 406 Chinese passengers, five travel agency employees and 47 crew members.Eastern Star - Dongfangzhixing in Chinese - had been carrying 406 Chinese passengers, five travel agency employees and 47 crew members.
The 76m-long ship weighs 2,200 tons, and could accommodate a maximum of 534 people.The 76m-long ship weighs 2,200 tons, and could accommodate a maximum of 534 people.
The boat sank in the Damazhou section of the Yangtze in Jianli county, Hubei, at about 21:30 local time on Monday evening (13:30 GMT). The boat sank at about 21:30 local time on Monday evening (13:30 GMT), but rescuers did not reach the vessel until at least two and a half hours later.
The water there is about 15m (50ft) deep. It took at least two and a half hours for rescuers to reach the boat. CCTV said the vessel was owned by the Chongqing Eastern Shipping Corporation which runs tours to the scenic Three Gorges river canyon area along the Yangtze River.
CCTV said the vessel was owned by the Chongqing Eastern Shipping Corporation which runs tours to the scenic Three Gorges river canyon area along the Yangtze river.
Anxious relatives in Shanghai have gathered outside the company's office, which remains shut. They told reporters that phone calls to their loved ones on board were not getting through.Anxious relatives in Shanghai have gathered outside the company's office, which remains shut. They told reporters that phone calls to their loved ones on board were not getting through.
Sina News reported that a young man was seen sobbing by the door, saying: "Mum and Dad I was wrong, I shouldn't have let you go off on your holiday."Sina News reported that a young man was seen sobbing by the door, saying: "Mum and Dad I was wrong, I shouldn't have let you go off on your holiday."
Another relative, Huang Yan, says she believes her husband and father-in-law were on board the boat, but she could not be sure because she had not seen the official passenger manifesto, the AP news agency reports.Another relative, Huang Yan, says she believes her husband and father-in-law were on board the boat, but she could not be sure because she had not seen the official passenger manifesto, the AP news agency reports.
"Why did the captain leave the ship while the passengers were still missing?'' she asked reporters, adding: "We want the government to release the name list to see who was on the boat.""Why did the captain leave the ship while the passengers were still missing?'' she asked reporters, adding: "We want the government to release the name list to see who was on the boat."
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