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Chinese ship sinks with at least 450 on board Chinese ship capsizes with at least 450 on board
(35 minutes later)
A ship carrying more than 450 people has sunk after being caught in a storm on the Yangtze River in southern China, according to state media. A cruise ship carrying more than 450 people has capsized after being caught in a storm on the Yangtze River in southern China, says state media.
The Xinhua News Agency said eight people had been rescued so far and work was under way to save the remaining passengers. The Xinhua news agency said rescuers had spotted the upturned boat and could hear people calling for help.
Premier Li Keqiang is travelling to the scene, state media said. It said eight people had been rescued so far and rescue teams have been heading out in boats to save the passengers, most of them tourists.
The vessel had been travelling from the eastern city of Nanjing to Chongqing in the south-west when it sank. Premier Li Keqiang is travelling to the scene in Hubei province.
The Dongfangzhixing - or Eastern Star - had been carrying 405 Chinese passengers, five travel agency employees and 47 crew, Xinhua said. The four-tier Dongfangzhixing - or Eastern Star - had been carrying 405 Chinese passengers, five travel agency employees and 47 crew, Xinhua said.
It was travelling from the eastern city of Nanjing to Chongqing in the south-west - a journey about some 1,500km (930 miles) - when it sank in the Damazhou section of the Yangtze in Jianli county.
The water there is about 15m (50ft) deep.
The captain and the chief engineer, who are among those rescued, were quoted as saying that the ship had been caught in a cyclone and sank quickly.The captain and the chief engineer, who are among those rescued, were quoted as saying that the ship had been caught in a cyclone and sank quickly.
Rescue work was being hampered by strong winds and heavy rain, the report said. The sinking happened in the Jianli county of Hubei Province. Rescue work was being hampered by strong winds and heavy rain, the report said.
Mr Li had ordered a team from the state council to lead the search and rescue operation, Xinhua added. Mr Li has ordered a team from the state council to lead the search and rescue operation, Xinhua added.
Chinese state broadcaster 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.Chinese state broadcaster 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.
The BBC's Jo Floto in Beijing said that stretch of the Yangtze is known for its beauty and attracts many Chinese retiree holidaymakers.
Those on board had mostly been tourists aged around 50 to 80 on a tour organised by a Shanghai company, the People's Daily reported.Those on board had mostly been tourists aged around 50 to 80 on a tour organised by a Shanghai company, the People's Daily reported.
It quoted the Yangtze River navigation administration as saying that the wreck was lying upside down.
Twenty-two people died on the river in January, when a tugboat undergoing tests capsized near Zhangjiagang, in Jiangsu province.Twenty-two people died on the river in January, when a tugboat undergoing tests capsized near Zhangjiagang, in Jiangsu province.