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| On China’s Yangtze River, a Race Against Time to Find Survivors | |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| JIANLI, China — Rescue divers from across China converged on a remote stretch of the Yangtze River on Tuesday in a race to save people possibly trapped inside the hull of a capsized cruise ship that had carried 458 passengers and crew. | JIANLI, China — Rescue divers from across China converged on a remote stretch of the Yangtze River on Tuesday in a race to save people possibly trapped inside the hull of a capsized cruise ship that had carried 458 passengers and crew. |
| As of Tuesday evening, nearly a full day after the four-story ship, the Oriental Star, capsized amid high winds and heavy rain, only 15 people were known to have survived the accident, including a 65-year-old woman dramatically pulled from an air pocket inside the ship just after midday Tuesday by divers. They briefly instructed her on how to use scuba equipment before guiding her into the muddy water and free of the overturned vessel, according to Chen Shoumin, the commander of the local military district, who spoke at a televised briefing. | As of Tuesday evening, nearly a full day after the four-story ship, the Oriental Star, capsized amid high winds and heavy rain, only 15 people were known to have survived the accident, including a 65-year-old woman dramatically pulled from an air pocket inside the ship just after midday Tuesday by divers. They briefly instructed her on how to use scuba equipment before guiding her into the muddy water and free of the overturned vessel, according to Chen Shoumin, the commander of the local military district, who spoke at a televised briefing. |
| Five bodies had been recovered, Xinhua, the state-run news agency, said. Many hundreds were most likely still inside the overturned vessel. Mr. Chen said that more people might still be alive in the ship and that additional rescuers were on their way to the scene, with plans calling for 183 divers to be there by Wednesday. | Five bodies had been recovered, Xinhua, the state-run news agency, said. Many hundreds were most likely still inside the overturned vessel. Mr. Chen said that more people might still be alive in the ship and that additional rescuers were on their way to the scene, with plans calling for 183 divers to be there by Wednesday. |
| in addition to the divers, other rescue workers were seen on state television tapping hammers on the hull, then listening for any response that could indicate there were more survivors. | |
| China’s prime minister, Li Keqiang, was at the scene in Hubei Province in central China. Xinhua and other state media outlets showed pictures of him giving instructions to the rescue crews. | China’s prime minister, Li Keqiang, was at the scene in Hubei Province in central China. Xinhua and other state media outlets showed pictures of him giving instructions to the rescue crews. |
| “This shows that the party and the government, they genuinely care about the people,” Mr. Chen said. | “This shows that the party and the government, they genuinely care about the people,” Mr. Chen said. |
| It appeared that the death toll could exceed that in East Asia’s last major such disaster, the sinking of the South Korean ferry Sewol ln April 2014, in which 304 people were killed, most of them high school students. | It appeared that the death toll could exceed that in East Asia’s last major such disaster, the sinking of the South Korean ferry Sewol ln April 2014, in which 304 people were killed, most of them high school students. |
| The captain of the ship, who has not been identified in state media, was recovered from the river at about 11:50 p.m. Monday, more than two hours after the vessel capsized, the official Hubei Daily reported. | The captain of the ship, who has not been identified in state media, was recovered from the river at about 11:50 p.m. Monday, more than two hours after the vessel capsized, the official Hubei Daily reported. |
| Images released Tuesday afternoon by the Chinese state media showed boats swarming around the capsized vessel and rescue workers on the keel, which lay above the waterline in muddy water, perpendicular to the riverbank. Xinhua reported that rescuers had cut into the ship in an attempt to reach possible survivors. As night fell, the scene was illuminated by powerful lights. | Images released Tuesday afternoon by the Chinese state media showed boats swarming around the capsized vessel and rescue workers on the keel, which lay above the waterline in muddy water, perpendicular to the riverbank. Xinhua reported that rescuers had cut into the ship in an attempt to reach possible survivors. As night fell, the scene was illuminated by powerful lights. |
| Alan Loynd, a longtime salvage expert based in Hong Kong, said that cutting a hole into the hull would require making sure the ship was in shallow water, to ensure it does not sink deeper. “The danger, of course, is if she’s floating upside down, you let the air out and she sinks,” he said. “You’d probably want to tow her into the shallows.” | Alan Loynd, a longtime salvage expert based in Hong Kong, said that cutting a hole into the hull would require making sure the ship was in shallow water, to ensure it does not sink deeper. “The danger, of course, is if she’s floating upside down, you let the air out and she sinks,” he said. “You’d probably want to tow her into the shallows.” |
| When possible, air is pumped into an overturned vessel from below as the exposed hull is cut open, in an attempt to maintain air pockets in the hull and reduce the risk that the vessel will descend deeper even if it has been dragged into shallow water. “One problem with pumping air from underneath is affecting the vessel’s stability — it may roll further,” said Arthur Bowring, the managing director of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association. | When possible, air is pumped into an overturned vessel from below as the exposed hull is cut open, in an attempt to maintain air pockets in the hull and reduce the risk that the vessel will descend deeper even if it has been dragged into shallow water. “One problem with pumping air from underneath is affecting the vessel’s stability — it may roll further,” said Arthur Bowring, the managing director of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association. |
| Cutting through the hull with an oxy-acetylene torch is also difficult because it involves not just slicing through thick steel plates. A cutting crew may need to slice through beams and other reinforcement connected to the inside of the steel plates, Mr. Loynd said. | Cutting through the hull with an oxy-acetylene torch is also difficult because it involves not just slicing through thick steel plates. A cutting crew may need to slice through beams and other reinforcement connected to the inside of the steel plates, Mr. Loynd said. |
| Many of the passengers who boarded the vessel in Nanjing on Thursday for a trip to last 10 days or more were older people on group tours, although there were also children among the passengers, including one 3 years old. In Shanghai, many of the tourists had booked through the Xiehe Tourism Agency. On Tuesday afternoon, the agency’s offices there were closed, with a note taped to the door saying that the managers had gone to the site of the accident. | Many of the passengers who boarded the vessel in Nanjing on Thursday for a trip to last 10 days or more were older people on group tours, although there were also children among the passengers, including one 3 years old. In Shanghai, many of the tourists had booked through the Xiehe Tourism Agency. On Tuesday afternoon, the agency’s offices there were closed, with a note taped to the door saying that the managers had gone to the site of the accident. |
| Grieving family members who had shown up at the office were sent by officials to a local petition bureau, about half a mile away, and told to wait there. At the bureau, dozens of relatives of passengers were inside the waiting rooms, many of them angry that the government had not provided them with any information about the accident or a list of possible victims. | Grieving family members who had shown up at the office were sent by officials to a local petition bureau, about half a mile away, and told to wait there. At the bureau, dozens of relatives of passengers were inside the waiting rooms, many of them angry that the government had not provided them with any information about the accident or a list of possible victims. |
| “They don’t want to tell us anything, and they treat us like we’re going to do something bad,” said a woman with the surname Chen, who said three of her sisters and two brothers-in-law were believed to have been on the Oriental Star with 14 other members of a tour group. “We just want to know where they are. Our family lost five people.” | “They don’t want to tell us anything, and they treat us like we’re going to do something bad,” said a woman with the surname Chen, who said three of her sisters and two brothers-in-law were believed to have been on the Oriental Star with 14 other members of a tour group. “We just want to know where they are. Our family lost five people.” |
| Ms. Chen’s husband, who said his name was Mr. Cai, stepped in, saying: “No one has talked to us; we’ve gotten no update. It’s really disappointing.” | Ms. Chen’s husband, who said his name was Mr. Cai, stepped in, saying: “No one has talked to us; we’ve gotten no update. It’s really disappointing.” |
| When a man who appeared to be a higher-ranking official arrived at the bureau, some relatives shouted at him and followed him, demanding answers. Others jostled with staff members at the bureau after they were told not to talk with the news media. | When a man who appeared to be a higher-ranking official arrived at the bureau, some relatives shouted at him and followed him, demanding answers. Others jostled with staff members at the bureau after they were told not to talk with the news media. |
| In an indication of how seriously the ruling Communist Party regarded the accident, Premier Li Keqiang arrived at the scene of the rescue efforts on Tuesday, Xinhua reported. News organizations reported that Xi Jinping, the country’s president and the party’s leader, had “issued important instructions immediately” to direct rescue operations. | In an indication of how seriously the ruling Communist Party regarded the accident, Premier Li Keqiang arrived at the scene of the rescue efforts on Tuesday, Xinhua reported. News organizations reported that Xi Jinping, the country’s president and the party’s leader, had “issued important instructions immediately” to direct rescue operations. |
| The central government ordered all Chinese journalists, except for those from Xinhua and China Central Television, to refrain from going to the scene, some Chinese journalists said. The government often issues such orders when unexpected and politically delicate news events take place. | The central government ordered all Chinese journalists, except for those from Xinhua and China Central Television, to refrain from going to the scene, some Chinese journalists said. The government often issues such orders when unexpected and politically delicate news events take place. |
| The sinking is the most prominent transportation accident in China since a high-speed train crash near the eastern city of Wenzhou in 2011, in which 40 people died. | The sinking is the most prominent transportation accident in China since a high-speed train crash near the eastern city of Wenzhou in 2011, in which 40 people died. |
| Both the captain and the chief engineer of the Oriental Star, who also survived, were taken into police custody and said during questioning that the ship capsized when it was hit by a tornado, according to reports in the state-run media. | Both the captain and the chief engineer of the Oriental Star, who also survived, were taken into police custody and said during questioning that the ship capsized when it was hit by a tornado, according to reports in the state-run media. |
| Tornadoes are not as common in China as in the United States, but the China Meteorological Administration said Tuesday that a tornado had been reported in the area around the time that the ship capsized. Wind speeds reached 12 on the Beaufort Scale, which translates to 74 miles per hour, or hurricane strength, for 15 to 20 minutes, the administration said in an emailed response to questions. Between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Monday, about two and a half inches of rain fell in the area, it said. | Tornadoes are not as common in China as in the United States, but the China Meteorological Administration said Tuesday that a tornado had been reported in the area around the time that the ship capsized. Wind speeds reached 12 on the Beaufort Scale, which translates to 74 miles per hour, or hurricane strength, for 15 to 20 minutes, the administration said in an emailed response to questions. Between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Monday, about two and a half inches of rain fell in the area, it said. |
| Yang Min, who was waiting in Shanghai on Tuesday for news about his 60-year-old parents and his 7-year-old daughter, all of whom had been on the ship, said he had called them about 9 p.m. Monday, just minutes before the vessel was reported to have sunk. “They said it was raining, but they didn’t say the weather was too bad,” Mr. Yang said by telephone. | Yang Min, who was waiting in Shanghai on Tuesday for news about his 60-year-old parents and his 7-year-old daughter, all of whom had been on the ship, said he had called them about 9 p.m. Monday, just minutes before the vessel was reported to have sunk. “They said it was raining, but they didn’t say the weather was too bad,” Mr. Yang said by telephone. |
| But Zhang Hui, a 43-year-old tour company employee who survived the disaster, told Xinhua that the ship encountered strong winds and lightning shortly after 9 p.m. “Raindrops hit the right side of the ship, and many cabins had water come in,” he said. “Even with the windows closed the water seeped in.” | But Zhang Hui, a 43-year-old tour company employee who survived the disaster, told Xinhua that the ship encountered strong winds and lightning shortly after 9 p.m. “Raindrops hit the right side of the ship, and many cabins had water come in,” he said. “Even with the windows closed the water seeped in.” |
| Twenty minutes later, as passengers were busy dragging wet bedding and electrical devices from their berths, the ship tilted violently. “We’ve got a big problem,” he said he told a colleague. Mr. Zhang said that he could not swim but that he grabbed a life vest that kept him afloat as wave after wave crashed over him. “I told myself, ‘Just keep going,’” he said. | Twenty minutes later, as passengers were busy dragging wet bedding and electrical devices from their berths, the ship tilted violently. “We’ve got a big problem,” he said he told a colleague. Mr. Zhang said that he could not swim but that he grabbed a life vest that kept him afloat as wave after wave crashed over him. “I told myself, ‘Just keep going,’” he said. |
| Local news reports said that another cruise ship had sailed from Nanjing at the same time as the Oriental Star and had pulled into a port to avoid the bad weather. That ship’s passengers had been booked by another tourist agency, Jiangxi Southern International Travel Agency, in Nanchang. A man answering the phone at that company, who refused to give his name, confirmed that a ship carrying tourists from his agency had set out with the Oriental Star and had stopped halfway because of the weather. | Local news reports said that another cruise ship had sailed from Nanjing at the same time as the Oriental Star and had pulled into a port to avoid the bad weather. That ship’s passengers had been booked by another tourist agency, Jiangxi Southern International Travel Agency, in Nanchang. A man answering the phone at that company, who refused to give his name, confirmed that a ship carrying tourists from his agency had set out with the Oriental Star and had stopped halfway because of the weather. |
| The Oriental Star sank in Jianli County in Hubei Province. It was sailing between two of China’s largest cities, from Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu Province, on the east coast, to Chongqing, an interior metropolis. That journey takes several days. | The Oriental Star sank in Jianli County in Hubei Province. It was sailing between two of China’s largest cities, from Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu Province, on the east coast, to Chongqing, an interior metropolis. That journey takes several days. |
| The ship was built in February 1994 and was capable of carrying 534 people, Xinhua reported. It belongs to the Chongqing Oriental Ferry Company, which is state-owned and deeply in debt. Last year the company reported assets of about $14.5 million and liabilities of more than twice that amount, or $29.8 million, according to records filed with the government. | The ship was built in February 1994 and was capable of carrying 534 people, Xinhua reported. It belongs to the Chongqing Oriental Ferry Company, which is state-owned and deeply in debt. Last year the company reported assets of about $14.5 million and liabilities of more than twice that amount, or $29.8 million, according to records filed with the government. |
| An employee of the company, who gave his surname as Deng, said Tuesday that much of its senior management was heading to the scene of the capsizing. Mr. Deng said there were no plans for the company, which has about half a dozen ships, to halt tours on its other vessels. “We’ll be very careful carrying out safety measures, that’s for sure,” he said by telephone. | An employee of the company, who gave his surname as Deng, said Tuesday that much of its senior management was heading to the scene of the capsizing. Mr. Deng said there were no plans for the company, which has about half a dozen ships, to halt tours on its other vessels. “We’ll be very careful carrying out safety measures, that’s for sure,” he said by telephone. |
| Tuesday night, police officers had set up a checkpoint on the main road leading into the town of Jianli, the county seat. Many local residents stood holding umbrellas while various rescue and civilian vehicles remained parked in the vicinity or waited in line at the checkpoint. Another road branched down toward the main rescue site on the banks of the Yangtze. | Tuesday night, police officers had set up a checkpoint on the main road leading into the town of Jianli, the county seat. Many local residents stood holding umbrellas while various rescue and civilian vehicles remained parked in the vicinity or waited in line at the checkpoint. Another road branched down toward the main rescue site on the banks of the Yangtze. |
| Men in green fatigues walked around, and ambulances with flashing lights drove both ways along the road. One white tanker from Sinopec, the large state oil company, sat on the side of the wet road. It had been appointed to provide fuel for rescue vehicles. Minibuses from the Civil Affairs Bureau were parked on one side of the road, across from the tanker; they had been used to bring rescue workers to the scene. | Men in green fatigues walked around, and ambulances with flashing lights drove both ways along the road. One white tanker from Sinopec, the large state oil company, sat on the side of the wet road. It had been appointed to provide fuel for rescue vehicles. Minibuses from the Civil Affairs Bureau were parked on one side of the road, across from the tanker; they had been used to bring rescue workers to the scene. |
| Qin Jianli, 48, from the nearby village of Xinzhou, drove on a scooter with his young son from the direction of the rescue site. “It’s been busy all day today,” he said. “Last night around 9:30, the wind began blowing hard, with lots of lightning. It blew so hard it destroyed some homes in my village.” | Qin Jianli, 48, from the nearby village of Xinzhou, drove on a scooter with his young son from the direction of the rescue site. “It’s been busy all day today,” he said. “Last night around 9:30, the wind began blowing hard, with lots of lightning. It blew so hard it destroyed some homes in my village.” |
| “The wind swirled in a twisted shape,” he added. | “The wind swirled in a twisted shape,” he added. |