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China ship capsize: Hopes fade of finding Yangtze survivors China ship capsize: Hopes fade of finding Yangtze survivors
(about 3 hours later)
Hopes are fading of any more survivors being found inside a cruise ship which capsized on China's Yangtze River.Hopes are fading of any more survivors being found inside a cruise ship which capsized on China's Yangtze River.
The Eastern Star, with 456 mostly elderly people on board, overturned in bad weather on Monday night.The Eastern Star, with 456 mostly elderly people on board, overturned in bad weather on Monday night.
Eighteen people are now confirmed to have died, says state media, and 14 have been rescued - some had been trapped in air pockets inside the hull. Eighteen people are now confirmed to have died, state media says, and 14 have been rescued - some had been trapped in air pockets inside the hull.
Officials say they will keep looking for survivors, but it could be China's worst maritime disaster in decades. Officials say they will keep looking for survivors, but it could be China's worst boat disaster in decades.
"As long as there's even a little hope, we will give it 100% and will absolutely not give up," Transport Minister Yang Chuantang said on Tuesday. But he said rescuers were in "a race against time". "As long as there's even a little hope, we will give it 100% and will absolutely not give up," Transport Minister Yang Chuantang said, before adding that rescuers were in "a race against time".
The Eastern Star overturned at about 21:30 on Monday evening (13:30 GMT) in the Damazhou section of the Yangtze. It did not send an emergency signal. Premier Li Keqiang urged divers to keep searching the ship in an "overnight battle" to find more survivors after at least two remarkable rescues on Tuesday, including one of a 65-year-old woman.
The captain - who survived and is now in police custody along with the chief engineer - said it was caught in a cyclone and went down in minutes. 'It was tilting very badly'
The Eastern Star Zhang Hui, 43, was rescued on Tuesday after floating for 10 hours clinging to a life jacket.
Yangtze River tragedy on trip of a lifetime He was in his room when a storm hit and he felt the boat tilt. "It was tilting very badly, maybe at around a 45-degree angle," he told the Xinhua state news agency.
He grabbed a life jacket and floated to the nearest window as the boat began to capsize "incredibly fast".
He spent the night in the river, struggling to keep afloat. "I told myself, I just needed to hold on and everything would be okay," he said.
He eventually made it ashore as dawn broke and received help at a nearby jetty.
Survivors' stories from the Eastern StarSurvivors' stories from the Eastern Star
Could weather front be behind Yangtze sinking?Could weather front be behind Yangtze sinking?
China's Xinhua state news agency said meteorologists had confirmed that a "sudden, strong and violent" storm hit the area at the time of the capsize. The Eastern Star overturned on Monday evening in the Damazhou section of the Yangtze. It did not send an emergency signal.
TV reports earlier said 6in (150mm) of rain had fallen in the region over the previous 24 hours, with reported wind speeds of up to 130 km/h (80mph). The captain - who survived and is now in police custody along with the chief engineer - said the vessel had been caught in a cyclone.
But the BBC's Jo Floto in Beijing says questions are being asked about how bad weather could capsize such a large boat in seconds while apparently not affecting any other vessels on the busy stretch of river. But the BBC's Jo Floto in Beijing says questions are being asked about how bad weather could destroy such a large boat in seconds while apparently not affecting any other vessels on the river.
Chinese media said meteorologists had confirmed that a "sudden, strong and violent" storm hit the area.
Rescuers had on Tuesday heard voices coming from the hull of the ship, but there were no such reports on Wednesday morning.Rescuers had on Tuesday heard voices coming from the hull of the ship, but there were no such reports on Wednesday morning.
State Broadcaster China Central Television has now said that by late on Wednesday morning, 18 bodies had been recovered. Three were reportedly recovered in Yueyang, Hunan province, some 50km away. State Broadcaster China Central Television said that by late Wednesday morning, 18 bodies had been recovered in Yueyang, Hunan province, some 50km (30 miles) away.
Premier Li Keqiang arrived at the site on Tuesday and urged an "overnight battle" to find survivors. He also demanded "regular and transparent updates" on the operation. Engineers are reportedly looking into cutting open the hull of the upturned vessel for better access but bad weather is hampering rescue efforts.
But relatives of some of those on board have expressed anger at what they say is a lack of information from officials. Premier Li Keqiang has demanded "transparent updates" on the operation but relatives of some of those on board have expressed anger at what they say is a lack of information from officials.
Divers carried out at least two remarkable rescues from the upturned vessel on Tuesday, including one of a 65-year-old woman. The Eastern Star
Hubei military region commander Chen Shoumin told Chinese television divers had taken breathing apparatus into the ship and spent five minutes showing her how to use it before they helped her escape. Yangtze River tragedy on trip of a lifetime
Three divers also found a 21-year-old man in a small compartment. They supplied diving apparatus and he swam out by himself.
One survivor, tour guide Zhang Hui, told the Xinhua state news agency heavy rain had come through cabin windows and the ship had tossed violently. He managed to grab a lifejacket just before the boat overturned.
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